TOWN  SEND      B  FLAX)  Y 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 
Commodore  Byron  McCandless 


WAIF-O-THE-SEA 


He    expected    any   moment    to    see    a    black    face    out-thrust    from 
the   open    window 

[Page  39] 


WAIF-O-THE-SEA 

A  Romance  of  the  Great  Deep 


BY 

CYRUS  TOWNSEND  BRADY 

Author  of  that  Group  of  Island  Stories,  to  wit: 

The  Island  of  Regeneration,    Tht  Island  of  Surprise, 

The  Island  of  the  Stairs,  and  Other  Novels  of  the 

South  Seas,  Including  By  the  World  Forgot 


ILLUSTRATED  BY 

J.  ALLEN  ST.  JOHN 


CHICAGO 
A.  C.  McCLURG  &  CO. 

1918 


Copyright 

A.  C.  McClurg  &  Co. 
1918 

Published  October,   1918 
Copyrighted  in  Great  Britain 


ALBERT  E.  SMITH 

Good  Fighter  and  Good  Friend 
Companion  in  many  a  bold  venture 

I  dedicate  this  story 

Confident  that  the  many  generations  of  the  hardy 

seamen  of  the  Cinque  Ports  he  numbers  in 

his  ancestry  will  make  him  love  the 

sound  of  the  sea  in  it,  as 

I  do  myself. 


957359 


PREFACE 

THIS  story  lies  between  two  truths.  As  I  look  at 
that  statement,  whose  form  and  substance  are  alike 
unpremeditated  I  do  assure  you,  it  appears  to  me  that 
I  am  jesting  with  my  readers  and  myself.  To  the 
obvious  double  entendre  I  will  not  plead  guilty,  since  I 
did  not  intend  it. 

What  I  mean  is  that  the  account  of  the  mutiny  on 
the  Sharon  with  which  the  story  begins  is  literally  true. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  difficult  as  it  may  be  to  believe, 
it  all  really  happened,  only  it  was  another  ship. 

Equally  true  is  the  account  of  the  amazing  adventure 
of  the  admiral  in  cutting  out  the  Esmeralda,  the  very 
identical  name  of  that  ship  by  the  way,  with  which  the 
novel  ends.  Now  you  see  what  I  really  meant. 

Also  characterized  by  the  same  scrupulous  adherence, 
to  fact  are  old  Broadrib's  reminiscences  of  his  famous 
commander.  In  life  the  veteran  harpooner  would  cer 
tainly  have  embellished  his  yarns  a  bit.  I  have  re 
strained  him,  even  at  the  risk  of  failing  to  draw  a  real 
sailor,  to  the  truth. 

As  for  the  rest  of  the  romance  it  is  not  difficult  to 
parallel  it  in  the  actual  experiences  of  the  time.  And  I 
hope  the  reader  may  be  willing  to  endorse  that  Italian 
proverb  which  runs, 

Si  non  e  ver  e  ben  trovato. 

And  perhaps  after  he  gets  to  know  Audrey,  that 


Preface 

Waif-o-the-Sea,  as  I  know  her  now,  to  say  nothing  of 
Captain  Clough,  the  admiral  and  the  harpooner,  he  or 
she  may  wish  to  hear  more  of  their  adventures. 
Romance  did  not  end  with  their  marriage.  Other 
things  happened  to  them  and  perhaps  I  shall  chronicle 
more  of  their  adventures  in  some  future  volume. 

C.  T.  B. 
The  Hemlocks,  Park  Hill, 

Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  April,  1918. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Sharon  Loses  Her  Captain     ....  I 
Mr.  Clough  Will  Not  Abandon  the  Ship  or 

the  Boy II 

III  The  Young  Mate  Chases  the  Ship     ...  26 

IV  The  Fight  in  the  Dark 37 

V     The  Mate's  Discovery 49 

VI     In  the  Grip  of  the  Storm 55 

VII     The  Making  of  a  Boy 68 

VIII     Away  for  Valparaiso 78 

IX     A  Kiss  in  the  Dark 92 

X     Old  Broadrib  Spins  a  Yarn 105 

XI     The  Harpooner  Helps  Out 121 

XII     The  Wreck  of  the  San  Martin 130 

XIII  How  the  Admiral  Got  Elected 143 

XIV  The  Second  Mutiny  on  the  Sharon     .     .     .  153 
XV     The  Esmeralda  Takes  a  Prize 161 

XVI     Spanish  Honor  Is  Upheld 174 

XVII     A  Half  Way  Success 187 

XVIII     Brave  but  a  Woman 200 

XIX     The  Admiral  Suggests  the  Easiest  Way     .     .  206 

XX     Audrey  Makes  Good  Her  Defense     .     .     .  225 

XXI     A  Promise  Broken  to  the  Hope     ....  233 

XXII     Bold    Preparations 241 

XXIII  Love  of  Man  and  Love  of  Woman     .     .     .  257 

XXIV  No  Cause  for  Complacency 267 

XXV     The  Admiral's  Amazing  Exploit     ....  275 

XXVI     Cutting  Out  the  Sharon 289 

XXVII     With   Fair  Wind   for   Home 300 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

He  expected  any  moment  to  see  a  black  face  out-thrust  from 

the   open    window Frontispiece 

Broadrib  was  made  of  tough  stuff  and  had  plenty  of  fight 

in  him 160 

The  admiral  in  person  led  the  charge 284 


WAIF-O-THE-SEA 

CHAPTER  I 

THE  SHARON  LOSES  HER  CAPTAIN 

"  ~D  EY,"  shouted  the  captain. 

JA.  The  boy  had  been  lounging  over  the  wheel. 
The  ship  needed  but  little  watching  in  the  light,  fitful  air 
prevailing.  A  light  touch  on  the  spokes  from  time  to 
time  kept  her  head  before  it  as  she  lazily  drifted  for 
ward  through  the  long  smooth  rollers.  Of  course,  if 
there  had  been  any  sea  running  or  any  wind  blowing  the 
slender,  rather  delicate  youngster  alone  would  scarcely 
have  been  equal  to  the  task  of  steering  the  big  whaler, 
although  in  point  of  knowledge  Rey  McRae,  the  cap 
tain's  nephew,  was  as  good  a  sailor  as  there  was  on  the 
ship.  He  never  discussed  his  age,  but  he  had  the 
appearance  of  a  fourteen-year-old  lad,  with  the  wit  and 
wisdom  of  more  years  than  that. 

A  year  and  a  half  had  passed  since  the  fine  new 
whaler,  Sharon,  had  cleared  from  New  Bedford  for  a 
cruise  in  the  South  Pacific  after  sperm,  and  the  time 
had  been  very  advantageously  employed  by  the  am 
bitious  boy,  especially  since  he  had  enjoyed  the  especial 
attention  and  the  able  teaching  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Clough,  the  young  third  mate. 

Although  there  was  no  occasion  for  it,  the  captain's 


IVaif-o-the-Sea 


voice  rang  very  sharp.  Captain  Howes  Norris,  of 
Holmes  Hole,  was  possessed  of  a  rough  tongue.  He 
had  a  habit  of  brusque,  peremptory,  exacerbating 
speech,  much  to  the  irritation  of  his  men  and  with 
serious  results  to  himself,  as  we  shall  see. 

As  the  call  came  to  him  from  abreast  of  the  fore 
mast  whither  the  captain  had  gone  Rey  straightened  up 
at  once.  He  had  learned  that  it  was  always  well  to  be 
on  the  alert  when  the  captain  spoke,  albeit  the  ship 
master  was  his  sole  and  only  relation  and  guardian. 

"Sir?"  he  answered  promptly  with  the  official  for 
mality  of  the  ship's  routine. 

"Take  a  turn  with  a  rope  about  the  wheel  to  keep 
it  steady,  and  jump  aloft  to  the  main  to'gall'nt  yard 
and  keep  your  eye  on  those  boats.  It's  growing  rather 
hazy  to  wind'ard.  I  don't  want  to  lose  sight  of  them." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  the  boy,  rapidly  lashing 
the  wheel  lightly  and  then  springing  into  the  main  rig 
ging,  up  which  he  ran  with  the  agility  of  a  cat. 

There  was  no  smarter  light  yardman  on  the  ship 
than  Rey  McRae.  There  his  slight  build  stood  him  in 
good  stead.  Disdaining  the  lubber's  hole,  he  scrambled 
over  the  futtock  shrouds  and  soon  the  rigging  that  led 
to  the  crosstrees  of  the  main  topmast  was  shaking  under 
his  flying  feet.  So  long  as  he  was  not  mastheaded  for 
punishment  —  a  common  enough  practice  in  those  days 
—  Rey  always  enjoyed  being  aloft.  He  possessed  a 
cool  head,  an  unerring  foot,  and  a  stout  heart.  He 
swung  himself  up  on  the  topgallant  yard,  clasped  the 
royal  mast  with  his  left  hand  and  shading  his  bright 
eyes  with  his  hand,  stared  up  to  windward. 


The  Sharon  Loses  Her  Captain  3 

"See  anything  of  them?"  shouted  the  captain  from 
the  weather  side  of  the  forecastle. 

"  Yes,  sir,  see  'em  plain,"  answered  the  boy  promptly. 

"Well?"  came  from  the  deck. 

"  The  mate's  boat's  fast  to  a  big  whale  and  they  are 
towing  her  back  toward  the  ship." 

"And  the  other  boat?" 

"She's  going  to  help  Mr.  Brace  tow,  I  think,  sir." 

From  his  lofty  position  on  the  main  topgallant  yard, 
the  youngster  could  see  over  and  through  the  light  haze 
spreading  over  the  sea  which  rather  obscured  the  view 
from  the  deck.  The  sky  was  still  clear  above,  but  on 
the  horizon  it  was  thickening  a  little,  and  before  he 
went  forward  Captain  Norris  had  noticed  that  the 
glass  was  falling  rather  rapidly. 

"That's  good,"  said  the  captain.  "Lay  down  from 
aloft  now  and  take  the  wheel  again." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  the  boy. 

He  stood  up  on  the  yard  and  reached  out  for  the 
main  royal  back-stay.  He  disdained,  as  slow  and  un- 
seamanlike,  the  ordinary  method  of  descending  from 
his  dizzy  perch  by  means  of  the  shrouds.  He  purposed 
to  slide  down  the  back-stay  to  the  deck  in  short  order. 

As  he  leaned  over  and  grasped  the  back-stay  pre 
paratory  to  stepping  off  the  yard  and  clasping  his  legs 
around  it  for  his  long  slide,  he  stopped  a  moment  for 
a  glance  at  the  deck  beneath  him. 

There  were  but  four  men  on  the  Sharon's  deck.  The 
captain,  who  had  left  the  forecastle  but  who  had  not 
returned  to  the  quarter  deck,  had  stopped  on  his  way 
aft  Just  forward  of  the  try-pots  he  had  climbed  up 


JVaif-o-the-Sea 


on  the  starboard  rail,  steadying  himself  to  the  slow  roll 
of  the  whaler  by  a  hand  on  the  after  swifter  of  the  fore 
shrouds.  The  captain,  the  other  men  on  the  deck,  with 
the  boy  aloft,  were  the  only  human  beings  left  on  the 
ship;  even  the  cook  had  gone  in  the  mate's  boat.  The 
three  other  men  were  natives  of  the  South  Seas.  They 
were  extreme  types  of  the  Papuan  or  Negroid  Islanders 
of  the  South  Pacific ;  very  black,  very  stupid,  very  brutal, 
and  very  strong.  Their  ugly  countenances  indicated 
savage  ferocity,  and  although  they  had  come  from  a 
Micronesian  island  of  the  Kingsmill  group,  they  were 
of  the  lowest  Melanesian  type.  Among  the  many 
Micronesians  of  the  Gilbert  Islands  were  some  hybrids, 
of  a  very  mixed  breed  indeed.  Sometimes  the  brown 
skinned,  better  featured,  better  formed,  high  grade 
Polynesian  or  Micronesian  type  predominated;  some 
times,  as  in  this  instance,  the  reverse  was  the  case. 
There  were,  it  was  evident,  not  three  worse  men  in 
appearance,  or  character,  in  the  Pacific,  afloat  or 
ashore. 

Finding  his  ship  becoming  short  handed  after  a 
chapter  of  accidents  and  mischances,  Captain  Norris 
had  of  necessity  taken  the  first  men  that  offered.  In 
deed,  it  had  been  difficult  to  get  anybody  at  all  in  those 
then  unfrequented  seas.  Therein  he  had  made  a  serious 
mistake,  for  these  black  villains  were  poor  sailors  — 
nothing  could  ever  teach  these  Melanesians  the  way 
of  a  ship,  and  except  where  brute  strength  could  be 
unskilfully  applied  they  were  utterly  worthless.  Too 
late  was  it  discovered  that  they  could  not  be  taught  to 
steer  and  that  nothing  on  earth,  neither  threat,  nor 


The  Sharon  Loses  Her  Captain  5 

appeal,  nor  command  would  induce  them  to  go  aloft. 
They  could  haul  away  lustily  at  a  sheet  or  a  halliard, 
and  one  of  them  at  least  had  learned  to  pull  an  oar 
after  a  fashion,  but  that  was  all.  They  could  neither 
hand,  nor  reef,  nor  steer. 

It  would  not  have  been  safe  to  leave  the  Sharon, 
which  was  a  big  ship  for  her  day,  of  seven  hundred  tons 
and  upwards,  under  the  care  of  three  savages,  a  boy 
and  the  captain  had  not  the  weather  been  so  mild,  the 
wind  so  light,  and  the  sea  so  smooth. 

When  she  cleared  from  New  Bedford  it  had  been 
with  the  shouts  of  the  admiring  populace  of  the  little 
seaport  town  and  many  good  wishes  for  "  greasy  luck," 
as  the  sailors'  phrase  went.  Those  wishes  had  been 
wonderfully  fulfilled  in  the  year  and  a  half  of  her  cruis 
ing  in  the  South  Seas.  For  nearly  every  barrel  of  the 
three  thousand  or  more  on  board  was  filled  with  whale 
oil,  the  best  sperm  oil  at  that,  and  the  hold  was  crowded 
with  the  by-products  of  the  whale  fishery,  so  called,  in 
cluding  some  huge  lumps  of  priceless  ambergris  they 
had  chanced  upon. 

Captain  Norris  intended  to  discharge  the  islanders 
at  some  convenient  island  which  he  might  pass,  make 
his  way  to  the  west  coast  of  South  America,  replenish 
provisions  and  water,  recruit  a  crew  if  possible,  and 
then  sail  for  home. 

That  afternoon  a  school  of  sperm  whales  had  been 
sighted  and  he  had  put  over  two  boats,  all  that  his 
short-handed  condition  would  warrant  him  manning, 
in  order,  if  possible,  to  fill  the  very  last  receptacles  still 
remaining  empty  on  the  ship.  They  had  got  one  big 


Waif-o-the-Sea 


bull  whale,  which  was  now  lashed  along  the  port  side, 
and  had  gone  back  for  another.  When  these  two  had 
been  tried  out  it  would  be  square  away  for  South 
America,  then  around  the  Horn  for  home. 

Everybody  left  on  the  ship  was  in  good  spirits.  For 
one  reason,  the  original  crew  of  twenty-nine  men  all 
told,  including  Captain  Norris  at  one  end  of  the  articles 
and  his  nephew  Rey  at  the  other,  had  been  reduced  to 
eleven  white  men  and  six  natives,  two  splendid  Poly 
nesians,  and  the  four  Kingsmillers.  Ten  of  the  sailors, 
irked  by  the  captain's  iron  hardness,  deserted  the  ship 
at  Ascension  Island  in  the  Caroline  group.  The  natives, 
who  were  not  averse  to  having  such  an  addition  to  their 
population,  had  concealed  them,  and  Norris,  although 
he  searched  diligently,  had  been  unable  to  find  them. 
Of  the  nineteen  other  white  men,  six  had  lost  their  lives 
in  the  dangers  incident  to  attacking  sperm  whales,  one 
had  been  left  at  Valparaiso  ill,  another  had  deserted 
the  ship  at  Rio  de  Janeiro. 

Of  course,  the  heirs  of  those  who  had  died  on  the 
cruise  in  the  line  of  duty  would  be  entitled  to  their  full 
"lay,"  or  share  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  tak 
ings  of  the  cruise.  Whalemen  were  paid  that  way. 
They  got  a  small  salary  and  a  share,  or  "lay"  in  pro 
portion  to  their  rank  and  rating  in  the  ship,  so  that  a 
whaling  cruise  was  always  a  speculative  proposition  for 
all  hands;  a  successful  voyage  meant  good  pay  even 
for  the  ship's  boy;  an  unsuccessful  one  brought  even 
the  captain  little  or  nothing. 

The  deserters  had,  on  the  contrary,  forfeited  all 
claim  to  their  share,  which  would  make  the  portion  of 


The  Sharon  Loses  Her  Captain  7 

those  who  had  remained  true  to  the  ship,  the  larger. 
Of  course  the  smaller  the  crew  the  harder  the  work, 
but  after  that  day  there  would  be  no  more  whaling  in 
the  full  ship  and  the  men  aboard  could  sail  her  home  on 
a  pinch. 

Norris  was  a  just  man,  a  strict,  hard  disciplinarian, 
but  he  was  not  cruel  and  he  was  both  a  splendid  seaman 
and  an  accomplished  whaler.  He  had  also  something 
of  the  white  man's  arrogance  toward  the  black  or  the 
brown  man,  which  he  was  at  little  pains  to  conceal. 
After  discovering  the  ineptitude,  inefficiency  and  gen 
eral  worthlessness  of  the  Kingsmill  Islanders,  he  had 
borne  hardly  on  them  with  a  reckless  disregard  of  con 
sequences.  He  despised  them,  treated  them  little  bet 
ter  than  dogs,  and  they  hated  him  as  much  as  they 
feared  him.  It  had  not  seemed  to  him  to  be  dangerous 
to  trust  himself  and  the  boy  alone  on  the  ship  with  these 
savages.  He  had  probably  never  given  a  thought  to 
any  possible  peril  to  himself  or  his  nephew.  If  any 
body  had  mentioned  the  risk  he  ran,  he  probably  would 
have  answered  that  he  could  handle  all  three  of  them 
himself.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  while  the  islanders  were 
not  and  never  would  be  seamen,  they  were  as  strong 
as  bulls  and  they  were  not  restrained  by  any  scruples  of 
any  sort. 

Seeing  the  captain,  whom  they  hated,  alone  on  the 
ship,  the  boats  being  now  far  away,  without  considering 
that  a  day  of  reckoning  would  certainly  come,  the  sav 
ages  decided  to  take  advantage  of  the  situation  to  wreak 
their  vengeance  upon  the  man.  Indeed,  taking  their 
cue  from  Captain  Norris,  nearly  everybody  on  the  ship 


8  Waif-o-the-Sea 


treated  them  with  contempt,  a  contempt  which  per 
haps  a  sailor  feels  for  inefficiency  more  than  any  other 
man,  since  the  lives  of  all  in  a  sailing  ship  depend  upon 
the  united  ability  and  experience  of  the  officers  and  crew 
more  than  in  any  other  occupation. 

Before  he  swung  himself  off  the  yard  to  descend  the 
boy  stared  down  at  the  deck  a  moment.  Aft  the  ship 
was  deserted,  forward  the  captain  stood.  On  the  lee 
side,  he  saw  the  three  islanders  in  a  group. 

The  ship  was  saturated  with  whale  oil,  although  Nor- 
ris  was  a  man  who  believed  in  cleanliness  and  carried 
his  beliefs  almost  to  an  unwarranted  limit,  which  was 
the  greatest  cause  for  grievance  the  sailors  had  with 
him.  He  was  constantly  trying  to  eradicate  the  evi 
dences  of  their  profession  which  impregnated  the  tim 
bers;  the  men  were  continually  scrubbing  decks,  yet  the 
Sharon  looked  exactly  what  she  was  —  a  whaler  reeking 
with  oil.  Everything  —  hull,  rigging,  masts,  yards, 
sails  —  was  permeated  with  whale  oil  and  smelled  of 
it  vilely. 

Mr.  Clough,  the  third  mate,  who  had  served  as  a 
midshipman  on  a  United  States  man-of-war  in  the  late 
struggle  with  England  and  had  there  acquired  a  love 
for  the  spick-and-span  neatness  of  the  man-of-war's- 
man,  also  hated  the  inevitable  greasiness  of  the  whaler. 
And  as  Rey  McRae  swore  by  Mr.  Clough,  he  experi 
enced  a  little  disgust  at  what  he  saw  below  him  that 
afternoon.  With  a  feeling  of  relief  he  looked  away 
to  the  blue  sea  stretching  unbrokenly  on  every  hand,  its 
rolling  surface  beginning  to  ripple  in  the  slowly  rising 
breeze.  That  moment  of  abstraction  had  the  most  dire 


The  Sharon  Loses  Her  Captain  9 

consequences,  for  when  he  turned  his  face  to  the  deck 
again  preparatory  to  descending,  what  he  saw  fairly 
froze  his  blood.  Yet  he  was  not  so  paralyzed  with 
alarm  as  to  be  unable  to  make  a  sound,  for  he  yelled 
loudly,  if  incoherently,  with  all  his  might  in  spite  of  his 
terror. 

Such  a  shriek  as  that  coming  down  from  aloft  startled 
the  captain.  He  half  turned,  but  it  was  too  late.  The 
biggest  Melanesian,  armed  with  a  whaling  spade,  was 
right  at  the  captain's  back.  Now  a  whaling  spade  is  a 
long-handled  implement  that  looks  not  unlike  a  common 
garden  spade  except  its  curved  cutting  or  thrusting 
edge  is  sharp  as  a  razor.  It  is  a  terrible  weapon  in  a 
strong  hand.  The  islanders  were  not  good  sailors,  but 
they  were  experts  in  the  use  of  any  throwing  or  thrust 
ing  weapons,  such  as  lance  or  spear. 

Rey  saw  the  flash  of  light  on  the  polished  weapon 
as  the  islander  leaped  up  and  lunged  viciously  at  the 
captain.  The  thrust  was  delivered  with  terrific  force 
and  the  edge  caught  the  officer  on  the  side  of  the  neck. 
Captain  Norris  never  lifted  a  hand,  he  never  said  a 
word  or  made  a  sound.  The  thrust  was  too  quick,  too 
sudden,  too  desperate.  It  is  doubtful  if  he  realized 
anything. 

Rey  closed  his  eyes  for  a  second  and  when  he  opened 
them  the  captain  was  not  there.  His  head  almost  sev 
ered  from  his  body,  Captain  Norris  had  been  driven 
overboard  by  the  force  of  the  blow.  The  islander,  wav 
ing  the  bloody  spade  in  his  hands,  was  shouting  madly, 
The  other  two  were  joining  in  a  wild  dance  on  the 
deck.  So  furious  had  been  the  blow  that  there  was 


io  Walf-o-the-Sea 


not  even  a  blood  spot  on  the  rail  where  the  captain 
had  stood. 

For  a  moment  Rey  could  scarcely  believe  that  any 
thing  had  happened.  Except  for  the  blood-stained 
spade  and  the  shouting  of  the  islanders  he  might  have 
thought  that  he  had  dreamed  it  all. 

Casting  a  glance  to  windward,  however,  he  detected 
a  dark  body  sinking  out  of  sight  as  the  ship  slowly 
surged  forward.  The  next  instant,  with  a  shudder,  he 
recognized  the  black  fin  of  a  shark  cutting  the  water. 
His  uncle  had  been  good  to  him,  in  the  main,  in  a  rough- 
and-ready  sort  of  a  way;  he  had  been  Key's  only  rela 
tive  and  the  boy  was  faint  and  sick  with  horror  at  the 
thought  of  his  dreadful  fate. 


CHAPTER  II 

MR.  CLOUGH  WILL  NOT  ABANDON  THE  SHIP  OR  THE  BOY 

THIS  awful  tragedy  had  happened  in  much  less  time 
than  it  takes  to  tell  it.  Rey  stood  with  his  feet  on 
the  yard  and  his  hand  still  clasping  the  stay.  He 
trembled  so  with  nervousness  that  he  could  scarcely 
keep  his  footing.  He  fought  desperately  against  an 
overwhelming  faintness.  After  that  first  cry  he  was  as 
incapable  of  speech  as  of  action.  One  of  the  islanders 
just  then  looked  aloft  and  caught  sight  of  him.  He 
spoke  to  the  others.  They  immediately  stopped  their 
dancing  and  shouting  and  stared  up  at  him.  One  of  the 
trio  seized  a  harpoon  and  hurled  it  at  the  lad.  Of 
course,  it  did  not  rise  much  higher  than  the  main  top 
far  beneath  him  before  it  clattered  to  the  deck.  The 
boy  was  in  no  danger  from  that  sort  of  weapon.  They 
tried  again.  While  the  second  shook  his  fist  at  him,  the 
third  man  snatched  a  free  belaying  pin  from  the  nearest 
life  rail  and  threw  it  upward,  but  as  before,  unavail- 
ingly.  Although  he  had  given  it  a  tremendous  heave 
with  his  powerful  black  arm,  it  just  touched  the  cross- 
trees  below  Rey's  feet  and  fell  harmlessly  back  to  the 
deck. 

No  man  had  ever  seen  one  of  the  islanders  aloft,  but 
that  they  might  try  to  ascend  the  rigging  and  get  him 
was,  of  course,  possible.  Would  they  make  the  attempt  ? 


Waif-o-the-Sea 


If  so,  what  could  he  do?  How  could  he  escape?  The 
appalled  boy  stared  at  them  with  a  sickening  anxiety 
and  a  growing  apprehension,  but  after  consulting  to 
gether  for  a  moment  they  separated.  Evidently  they 
had  no  present  intention  of  climbing  the  rigging  to  get 
at  him.  Greatly  relieved  for  the  moment,  Rey  neverthe 
less  watched  them  closely  as  they  ran  about  the  ship, 
fearful  lest  they  might  change  their  minds  and  try  to 
take  or  kill  him.  It  came  to  him  at  last  to  his  great 
relief  that  they  regarded  him  as  a  negligible  quantity. 
Stupid  as  they  were  they  knew  he  would  have  to  come 
down  from  aloft  for  food  and  drink  sooner  or  later,  for 
if  he  did  not  he  would  grow  so  weak  from  hunger  and 
exposure  he  would  fall  to  the  deck.  He  was  only  a 
boy  anyway,  and  they  had  no  fear  of  him  or  any  antici 
pation  that  he  would  attack  them. 

Meanwhile  they  realized,  of  course,  that  the  boats 
would  soon  be  returning.  Indeed,  the  slight  mist  had 
been  lifted  by  a  growing  breeze  to  starboard  and  the 
boats  were  now  in  plain  sight  from  the  deck,  though  still 
a  long  way  off.  Rey  divined  that  the  savage  mutineers 
were  preparing  to  receive  them.  It  was  about  one  bell 
in  the  first  dog  watch,  or  half  past  four  in  the  afternoon, 
and  the  season  was  early  October,  so  that  the  day  was 
already  drawing  to  its  close. 

Uncertain  for  a  moment  as  to  what  he  ought  to  do, 
Rey  continued  to  follow  their  movements,  getting  his 
nerve  back  in  a  measure  as  he  realized  that  he  was  in 
no  immediate  danger.  Their  purpose  was  plain  enough. 
They  had  gathered  up  all  the  Whaling  implements  on 
the  ship,  lancts,  spears,  harpoons,  axes,  together  with 


Clouyk  Will  Not  Abandon  Ship  or  Boy    13 

billets  of  wood  and  other  missiles,  and  these  they  piled 
in  convenient  places  forward  and  aft  and  along  the  bul 
warks,  or  rails,  so  as  to  be  ready  for  an  attack  by  at 
tempted  boarding  from  the  boats.  As  they  did  so,  they 
kept  up  a  great  clatter  in  their  own  tongue  with  which 
Rey  was  entirely  unfamiliar.  In  fact,  so  was  everyone 
on  the  ship,  communication  with  them  being  by  signs 
and  a  few  words,  mostly  profanity,  which  they  had 
picked  up  from  other  whalers,  except  in  the  case  of  that 
one  of  them  who  was  with  the  boats,  and  who  could 
speak  a  little  broken  English. 

The  inaction  was  paralyzing  to  the  boy.  After  he 
found  that  he  himself  was  unmolested,  it  presently  oc 
curred  to  him  that  he  ought  to  do  something  to  warn  the 
boats.  They  were  still  distant  about  a  league  from  the 
ship,  which  they  were  approaching  very  slowly  on  ac 
count  of  the  dead  weight  of  the  big  whale  they  were 
towing,  and  Rey  decided  that  they  ought  to  be  sum 
moned  back  at  once  and  at  the  same  time  warned  if  it 
were  possible. 

Neither  of  the  three  royals  had  been  set,  and  as  the 
surest  way  of  attracting  attention  and  showing  that 
something  was  wrong,  Rey  decided  to  cut  the  main  top 
gallant  halliards  and  let  the  yard  fall  on  the  crosstrees. 
He  accordingly  dropped  down  to  the  crosstrees  himself, 
drew  his  sheath  knife  and  cut  the  halliards.  The  yard 
came  down  with  a  run,  the  sail  flopping  and  bellying  out 
under  the  light  breeze,  making  a  great  showing. 

That  would  be  seen,  of  course,  from  the  boats,  and 
any  sailor  would  know  that  it  was  a  sign  that  something 
was  wrong  unless  the  halliards  had  carried  away  because 


14  Waif-o-the-Sea 


they  were  defective  and  the  officers  of  the  ship  would 
know  that  they  were  not.  The  yard  made  some  noise 
as  it  fell,  and  the  lazy  flapping  of  the  sail  attracted  the 
gaze  for  a  moment  of  the  men  on  the  deck,  but  they 
paid  no  attention  to  it.  It  meant  nothing  to  them.  The 
boy  noticed  that  they  had  stripped  off  their  shirts  and 
trousers  and  were  busy  streaking  themselves  with  red 
paint  which  they  had  obtained  in  the  storeroom. 

Standing  on  the  crosstrees  Rey  tried  hard  to  think  if 
there  was  anything  else  he  could  do.  Happening  to 
glance  aft  he  caught  sight  of  the  ensign  hanging  quietly 
from  the  gaff  of  the  spanker.  If  he  could  only  get  the 
flag !  Captain  Norris  was  very  proud  of  his  nationality 
and  he  generally  had  a  small  flag  flying  even  at  sea.  It 
was  easy  enough  to  get  into  the  mizzen  top.  Of  course, 
the  mizzen  top  would  be  much  more  accessible  to  the 
savages,  being  so  much  nearer  to  the  deck  than  the  main 
topmast  crosstrees,  but  Rey  decided  the  risk  was  worth 
the  attempt.  He  remembered  that  not  one  of  these 
islanders  had  ever  been  aloft  and  he  did  not  think  one 
of  them  would  dare  to  try  it  now. 

He  could  easily  gain  the  mizzen  topgallant  yard  by 
means  of  the  mizzen  topmast  stay  which,  since  the  miz 
zen  topmast  was  so  much  lower  than  the  main,  ran 
almost  level  between  the  two  masts,  the  ascent  from  the 
main  top  being  but  a  slight  one,  easily  managed  by  any 
active  boy. 

Clasping  his  legs  around  the  stay,  quickly  and  quietly 
he  climbed  up  hand  over  hand  to  the  mizzen  topmast. 
He  did  this,  of  course,  without  making  any  noise,  and  he 
gained  the  crosstrees  entirely  unobserved.  The  next 


Clough  Will  Not  Abandon  Ship  or  Boy    15 

move  was  much  easier.  He  only  had  to  drop  down  to 
the  end  of  the  spanker  gaff  by  means  of  the  peak  hal 
liards,  which  held  up  the  outer  end  of  the  spar,  detach 
the  flag,  slide  down  the  gaff  to  the  mast,  and  climb  up 
into  the  mizzen  top  by  means  of  the  throat  halliards. 

There  was  not  a  surer  footed,  clearer  headed  person 
on  the  ship  than  the  boy.  He  would  not  have  hesitated 
a  second  about  such  an  achievement  under  ordinary  cir 
cumstances,  but  with  these  bloodthirsty  savages  on  the 
deck,  it  was  quite  another  matter.  However,  he  had 
come  so  far  that  he  determined  to  go  through  the  affair 
to  the  end. 

He  slid  down  the  peak  halliards  to  the  boom,  clasped 
his  legs  around  it,  cut  the  halliards  to  which  the  colors 
were  bent,  and  seized  the  flag.  Unfortunately,  as  he  cut 
the  flag  halliards  they  fell  to  the  deck  and  one  of  the 
islanders,  happening  to  pass  beneath,  was  struck  on  the 
shoulder  by  the  falling  line.  He  looked  up  and  saw  the 
boy.  Of  course,  he  did  not  for  a  moment  understand 
what  he  was  about  or  why  he  was  in  that  position.  But 
that  made  no  difference. 

Fortunately,  he  had  no  missile  in  his  hand.  It  was  the 
same  savage  who  had  used  the  whaling  spade  with  such 
terrible  effect  on  the  poor  captain  and  he  still  carried 
that  weapon.  With  an  acuteness  for  which  he  could 
have  scarcely  been  given  credit,  he  saw  that  the  gaff,  or 
boom,  to  which  the  boy  clung  was  steadied  by  two  ropes 
called  vangs  which  led  to  either  side  of  the  ship. 

Now  Rey  had  not  waited  for  anything.  As  soon  as 
he  got  the  flag  in  his  hand  he  started  down  the  boom 
toward  the  mast.  He  saw  the  islander  perfectly.  The 


1 6  Waif-o-the-Sea 


man's  eyes  followed  the  vang  or  stay  down  to  the  deck. 
He  turned  instantly  and  raised  his  spade.  Rey  knew 
what  that  meant.  One  vang  or  both  being  cut,  the  gaff 
would  swing  around  wildly. 

He  was  still  about  midway  of  the  gaff.  He  had  a  few 
seconds  to  get  to  the  mast.  Somehow  or  other,  hold 
ing  the  flag  in  his  teeth,  he  got  to  his  feet,  and  just  as 
the  whaling  spade  cut  the  vang  and  the  boom  gave  a 
lurch,  the  boy  clasped  the  peak  halliards  and  slipped 
into  the  mizzen  shrouds.  The  man  who  had  cut  the 
vang  yelled  as  he  did  so,  and  he  was  instantly  joined  by 
the  other  two  natives.  One  of  them  had  an  axe.  He 
hurled  it  at  the  boy  with  terrific  force  and  accurate  aim. 
Some  good  angel  just  then  caused  Rey  to  move  aside 
as  he  climbed  to  the  top,  this  time  through  the  lubber's 
hole  for  safety,  and  the  blade  only  grazed  his  shoulder 
instead  of  hitting  him  fairly  in  the  back  of  the  neck, 
which  would  have  meant  his  instant  death. 

The  wound  made  by  the  axe  was  neither  dangerous 
nor  very  deep,  but  it  was  painful  and  it  bled  profusely  as 
he  gained  the  shelter  of  the  mizzen  top.  At  the  moment 
it  only  added  a  stimulus  to  the  boy's  energy  if  he  needed 
any.  His  one  thought  was  to  get  back  to  the  main  top, 
which  was  high  and  afforded  him  more  safety  than  the 
mizzen;  the  latter  being  the  shortest  mast,  the  top  was 
dangerously  near  the  raised  poop  deck. 

The  savages  were  grouped  aft  staring  and  yelling. 
Then  Rey  resorted  to  a  trick.  He  thrust  his  cap  over 
the  rail  on  the  end  of  a  belaying  pin  which  he  found  in 
the  top.  It  was  instantly  greeted  with  a  shower  of 
missiles.  This  kept  the  savages  aft,  for  they  expected 


dough  Will  Not  Abandon  Ship  or  Boy    17 

dumbly  to  see  him  again.  While  they  were  watching 
he  had  scrambled  up  to  the  crosstrees,  and  when  they 
next  caught  sight  of  him,  he  was  half  way  down  the  miz- 
zen  topmast  stay  which  he  had  before  ascended,  and  he 
was  sliding  down  that  stay  for  dear  life  the  flag  in  his 
teeth.  It  was  an  easy  thing  for  a  well  person,  but  for  a 
frightened  boy  who  had  had  the  life  almost  scared  out 
of  him  and  who  was  bleeding  from  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder,  it  was  a  terrible  undertaking.  But  desperate 
fear  lent  him  a  strength  of  which  adverse  conditions 
had  sought  to  deprive  him. 

Although  the  savages  ran  forward  and  the  air  was 
filled  with  missiles,  one  of  which,  a  beef  bone,  struck 
him  on  the  back  and  bruised  him  but  did  not  cause  him 
to  lose  his  hold,  he  gained  the  main  top,  panting,  ex 
hausted,  bleeding,  but  otherwise  unhurt.  To  clamber 
up  to  the  main  royal  masthead  and  set  the  flag,  Union 
down,  was  the  work  of  a  few  moments.  Then  he  slid 
down  the  mast  to  the  crosstrees.  He  sat  down  on  the 
topgallant  yard,  resting  on  the  cap,  clasped  his  legs 
around  the  mast,  and  sought  with  his  neckerchief  to 
bind  up  his  wounded  shoulder.  It  was  almost  an  im 
possibility. 

Fortunately,  no  artery  had  been  cut  and  after  a  time, 
largely  because  he  sat  with  his  hand  pressed  against  it, 
the  wound  stopped  bleeding,  but  it  rendered  him  quite 
helpless.  His  arm  was  stiff,  it  pained  him  frightfully, 
and  he  was  so  dizzy  and  giddy  that  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  he  maintained  his  position  on  the  yard. 

The  flag,  Union  down,  always  a  signal  of  distress, 
told  the  men  in  the  boats  that  something  serious  had 


1 8  Waif-o-the-Sea 


happened.  They  buoyed  the  whale,  cast  off  the  lines 
by  which  they  were  towing  him,  and  drove  the  whale- 
boats  rapidly  toward  the  ship.  The  boats  were  rather 
short-handed,  too,  since  the  ship's  complement  had 
been  so  depleted  by  accident  and  desertion,  but  their 
crews  made  up  in  energy  for  what  they  lacked  in 
numbers. 

They  approached  the  ship  from  slightly  forward  of 
the  beam.  The  savages  on  the  deck  manifested  an  un 
usual  degree  of  craft,  for  they  crouched  beneath  the 
rail  and  gave  no  sign  of  their  presence. 

Feeling  that  he  could  hold  on  for  but  a  little  time 
longer,  the  boy  was  almost  at  the  end  of  his  resources. 
But  he  summoned  his  strength,  and  as  the  boats  came 
within  hailing  distance  he  shouted  a  warning. 

"  Mr.  Brace,"  he  called.  The  first  and  second  mates 
were  New  Bedford  men,  brothers,  named  Thomas  and 
Nathan  Brace  respectively.  Mr.  Ben  Clough,  the  third 
mate,  was  in  the  mate's  boat  forward.  "  Boat  ahoy," 
shouted  the  boy  again. 

He  thought  he  was  shouting  loudly,  but  the  sound  of 
his  voice  was  singularly  faint  and  weak.  Yet  in  the 
light  air  they  heard  him  distinctly  enough. 

"What  is  it?  What  has  happened?"  answered  the 
mate. 

"The  savages  have  arisen  and  murdered  the  captain. 
They  are  in  possession  of  the  ship." 

Without  orders  the  men  had  stopped  rowing  at  the 
sound  of  the  first  hail,  but  the  boats  had  enough  momen 
tum  to  drive  them  ahead  and  they  were  now  quite  near 
the  ship. 


Glough  Will  Not  Abandon  Ship  or  Boy    19 

As  the  boy's  voice  died  away,  the  three  Papuans  sud 
denly  sprang  up  on  the  rail.  They  were  armed  with 
whaling  spades,  lances,  or  hatchets,  according  to  their 
fancy. 

"Hold  water!"  shouted  Mate  Brace  in  the  nearest 
boat.  "Backwater  hard!  Stern  all!" 

The  boat's  way  was  checked  as  the  men  dug  their 
oars  in  deep  and  then  she  was  driven  slowly  astern  as 
they  backed  hard.  One  of  the  men  in  the  mate's 
boat  was  the  fourth  islander,  a  man  called  Billy.  The 
sailors,  finding  it  impossible  to  pronounce  the  names  of 
the  islanders,  had  named  them  in  accordance  with  their 
fancy. 

'You,  Billy,"  said  the  mate  pointing,  "what  do  they 
say?" 

Now  Billy  was  more  intelligent  than  the  rest  and 
knew  more  English.  That  was  one  reason  why  he  had 
been  distinguished  by  being  permitted  to  pull  an  oar. 
He  turned  his  head  and  shouted  out  something  at  his 
fellow-countrymen.  A  perfect  torrent  of  words  was 
poured  out  upon  him.  So  soon  as  he  could  make  him 
self  heard,  Billy  turned  to  the  mate. 

'  They  got  ship.     Kill  you.     Same  bad  captain." 

The  islanders  burst  forth  again. 

"What  now?"  asked  Mr.  Brace  as  the  tumult  sub 
sided. 

"Want  me  come." 

At  that  Mr.  Clough  picked  up  a  harpoon  and  pointed 
it  directly  at  the  man's  back.  His  meaning  was  per 
fectly  obvious.  Any  treachery  on  Billy's  part  would 
be  checked  by  a  thrust  of  that  weapon.  The  savage 


2O  Waif-o-the-Sea 


shook  his  head.  A  cry  of  rage  broke  from  the  men  on 
the  ship  and  the  next  instant  one  of  them  hurled  an  axe 
over  the  waters  with  such  force  and  skill  that  but  for  the 
fact  that  Billy  saw  it  coming  over  his  shoulder  and 
ducked,  it  would  have  killed  him.  As  it  was,  it  struck 
the  side  of  the  boat,  making  a  large  gash  extending 
down  nearly  to  the  water's  edge. 

The  men  needed  no  urging  to  put  distance  between 
them  and  the  ship  after  that  Before  they  got  the  boat 
moving,  however,  Mr.  Clough  stood  up  in  the  fore 
sheets  and  threw  his  harpoon  with  all  his  force  and  skill. 
The  distance  was  too  great  and  the  harpoon,  making  a 
graceful  curve  in  the  air,  struck  the  side  of  the  ship 
below  the  rail.  It  stuck  there  quivering.  The  natives 
yelled  derisively. 

"If  you  will  put  me  a  little  nearer,  Mate,"  said  Mr. 
Clough  fiercely,  "  I  will  put  a  harpoon  through  one 
of  them." 

"  It  is  not  to  be  thought  of,"  said  Brace,  turning  very 
pale.  "  If  that  axe  had  gone  a  foot  lower,  it  would 
have  gone  through  the  bottom  of  the  boat  and  she 
would  have  sunk." 

By  this  time  the  two  boats  had  got  a  safe  distance 
from  the  ship.  The  air  still  continued  light  and  the 
ship  wabbled  along,  backing  and  filling,  coming  to  and 
falling  off  in  aimless,  erratic  fashion,  making  no  way  ex 
cept  a  slow  drift  to  leeward  through  the  water.  One 
of  the  mutineers  had  cast  off  or  cut  the  wheel  lashing, 
and  the  ship  was  under  no  control  at  all. 

"  I  guess  there  is  no  doubt  about  the  captain  being 
dead,"  said  the  second  mate  to  his  brother,  as  the  two 


Clough  Will  Not  Abandon  Ship  or  Boy   21 

boats  came  to  rest  again,  "therefore,  you  are  in  com 
mand,  Tom." 

Now  Thomas  Brace  was  undoubtedly  in  command, 
but  he  was  plainly  unequal  to  the  situation.  Ordinarily 
brave  enough,  the  sight  of  those  bloodthirsty,  red- 
streaked  savages,  who  had  now  stripped  themselves 
except  for  breech  cloths,  and  who  were  evidently 
drunk  with  blood,  appalled  him.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  counting  out  the  fourth  Kingsmiller  and  the 
two  Polynesians,  there  were  but  nine  white  men  in  the 
two  boats. 

"There  is  nothing  to  do,"  said  Mr.  Clough  at  last, 
seeing  nobody  else  suggested  anything,  "  but  to  row  up 
to  the  ship  on  each  side,  board  her,  and  take  a  chance." 

"  I  would  rather  abandon  her,"  said  the  second  mate, 
who  was  as  timid  as  the  first,  apparently.  "  We  are  only 
five  days  from  Christmas  Island,  where  we " 

"Are  you  going  to  abandon  a  ship  crammed  to  the 
hatches  with  sperm  oil,  an'  worth  thousands  of  dollars, 
to  three  savages,  South  Sea  Island  dogs?"  in  great 
surprise  interrupted  a  veteran  harpooner,  a  big  sturdy 
Englishman  named  Broadrib,  a  general  favorite  with 
all  hands,  and  who  presumed  on  his  station  to  express 
his  views  frankly. 

"To  say  nothing  of  the  boy  up  there,"  added  Mr. 
Clough,  sharing  the  old  harpooner's  disgust  and  amaze 
ment. 

"He  is  safe  enough,  now,"  answered  the  mate. 
"  Nat  one  of  those  fellow's  could  be  driven  above  die 
sheer  poles" — the  first  ratlines  or  crosspieceis  on  the 
shrouds  —  "to  save  his  life." 


22  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"Aye,  he  is  safe  enough  now,  but  hunger,  and  thirst, 
and  exposure  will  get  him." 

"Since  you  are  in  favor  of  taking  the  ship,  Mr. 
Clough,  I  will  give  you  one  boat,"  answered  the  mate 
sharply.  "  My  brother  and  I  will  take  the  other.  We 
will  take  into  our  boat  the  three  islanders,  while  you 
and  Broadrib,  and  any  of  the  remaining  men  can  try 
your  plan." 

Mr.  Clough  shot  a  look  of  contempt  at  the  cowardly 
mates. 

"  Very  well,"  he  said,  "  I  will  do  it." 

"  I'm  with  you,  Mr.  Clough,"  said  the  harpooner. 

"Well,  you  can't  count  on  me,"  said  one  of  the  other 
sailors.  "  If  the  other  mates  are  goin'  to  stay  here,  I 
am  goin'  to  stay  here,  too." 

The  men  were  good  men,  but  naturally  they  took  their 
cue  from  their  new  commander  and  his  first  subordinate. 
The  argument  was  fast  and  furious,  but  nothing  could 
budge  the  mates. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,"  said  Mr.  Clough  at  last, 
in  deep  disgust.  "  I'll  board  her  single-handed."  He 
turned  to  the  mate.  "  I  want  to  talk  to  the  boy  again. 
I  will  take  all  the  risk.  I  will  stand  up  for'ard  here  and 
if  anybody  gets  hit,  it  will  be  I." 

"  I  tell  you  I — "  began  the  mate. 

"We  can't  stay  out  here  forever,  and  we  can't 
abandon  that  ship,"  said  Mr.  Clough  decisively.  "  I 
couldn't  go  back  home  and  face  our  New  Bedford 
people  after  that,  and  as  for  telling  our  people  that  we 
left  a  boy  alone  with  those " 

"  Give  way,  men,  easy,"  said  the  mate  reluctantly. 


dough  Will  Not  Abandon  Ship  or  Boy    23 

The  boat  approached  the  ship  again. 

"  Rey,  ahoy,  Rey !  Main  topmast  crosstrees,  there !  " 
shouted  Mr.  Clough,  standing  up. 

Rey  was  pretty  far  gone  by  this  time.  He  was  cling 
ing  to  his  perch  in  grim  determination.  But  the  voice  of 
the  man  he  admired  aroused  him. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  shouted  the  lad. 

"  My  boy,  we  are  not  going  to  leave  you,"  returned 
the  third  mate.  We  are  going  to  get  the  ship  back 
somehow.  You  can  help  us.  Climb  over  to  the  fore 
mast  and  cut  the  fore  royal  stay.  It  will  drop  into  the 
water  and  as  soon  as  it  is  dark,  I  will  try  to  board  the 
ship  by  means  of  it  and " 

"  I  can't  do  it,  Mr.  Clough,"  answered  Rey  despair 
ingly. 

"You  must,"  insisted  the  mate,  eagerly,  "it's  the 
only  way,  my  lad." 

Of  course,  the  savages  on  deck  heard  the  conversa 
tion,  but  they  knew  no  English,  and  although  the 
islander  in  the  boat  understood  something  of  what  was 
purposed,  and  opened  his  mouth  to  speak,  the  seaman 
who  sat  in  front  of  him  hit  him  a  clip  on  the  head  with 
his  clenched  fist  which  silenced  him. 

The  mutineers  crowded  the  rail,  but  made  no  effort 
to  throw  anything.  The  mate  had  stopped  the  boat 
just  as  far  away  as  it  was  possible  for  Mr.  Clough  to 
hear.  It  was  growing  dark,  too,  and  their  aim  would 
not  have  been  certain,  and  they  needed  the  weapons.  At 
any  rate,  whatever  the  reason,  they  did  not  offer  to 
molest  the  mate  who  stood  up  in  the  bow  of  the  whale- 
boat. 


24  Watf-o-the-Sea 


"  Rcy,  you  must  try  it,"  he  repeated.  "  They  won't 
go  aloft.  They  won't  hurt  you." 

"  It  isn't  that,"  answered  the  boy.  "  I'm  not  afraid. 
But  when  I  was  on  the  gaff  end  to  get  the  flag,  one  of 
them  cut  me  with  an  axe.  I  have  lost  the  use  of  my  left 
arm.  I  can't  hold  on  here  very  long.  If  you  don't  come 
soon,  I  am  a  goner." 

"Now,  you  hold  on  for  your  life,  lad,"  said  Mr. 
Clough,  disappointed  and  alarmed  for  the  lad's  safety, 
for  he  was  very  fond  of  Rey.  "We  will  get  aboard 
some  way.  Don't  give  up.  Keep  up  your  courage." 

By  this  time  the  sun  had  set,  and  darkness  was  spread 
ing  over  the  sea.  Mr.  Clough's  brilliant  plan  had  been 
entirely  practicable,  but  the  utter  inability  of  Rey  Mc- 
Rae  to  carry  out  his  part  of  it,  rendered  it  necessary  for 
him  to  think  of  something  else. 

The  boats  drew  off.  The  forlorn  and  unfortunate 
Rey  watched  them  until  they  were  gray  specks  in  the 
dark  water.  He  felt  dreadfully  weak  and  sick.  Finally, 
he  decided  he  could  not  keep  his  position  on  the  cross- 
trees  any  longer.  He  had  unlimited  confidence  in  the 
ability  of  Mr.  Clough,  but  he  would  have  to  get  some 
place  where  he  could  lie  down  if  he  was  not  to  lose  his 
hold  and  fall  to  the  deck. 

The  broad  main  top  lay  below  him  invitingly.  Of 
course,  it  was  dangerous.  There  was  a  possibility  that 
the  savages  in  their  desire  to  get  him,  might  manage  to 
climb  to  the  top,  although  they  could  not  get  to  the 
crosstrees;  but  the  boy  had  no  choice.  He  waited  until 
it  was  completely  dark.  Then  he  slid  quietly  down  from 
the  crosstrees  until  he  reached  the  top.  Without  mak- 


Clough  Will  Not  Abandon  Ship  or  Boy   25 

ing  a  sound,  he  laid  himself  down,  pillowed  his  head  on 
a  coil  of  rope  with  his  face  close  to  the  lubber's  hole  so 
that  he  could  look  down  without  turning  his  head,  and 
waited. 

How  long  he  waited,  he  could  not  tell.  Perhaps,  in 
spite  of  his  anxiety,  he  fell  asleep.  At  any  rate,  he  was 
suddenly  aroused  by  a  tremendous  racket  aft  in  the 
cabin.  He  sat  up,  and  although  his  shoulder  was  stiff 
and  pained  him  frightfully,  he  got  on  his  feet,  clung  to 
the  rail  of  the  top,  and  peered  down  to  the  deck,  which 
he  could  dimly  distinguish  in  the  darkness.  There  was 
no  moon,  but  the  stars  cast  a  faint  light. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE    YOUNG    MATE    CHASES    THE    SHIP 

THE  argument  in  the  boats  had  been  fast  and  furi 
ous.  Of  course,  there  need  have  been  no  debate 
at  all,  if  the  mate  on  whom  the  command  had  devolved 
had  been  a  man  of  resolution,  and  determination,  and 
decision.  He  would  have  outlined  a  plan  of  action 
promptly,  and  the  rest  of  his  men  would  have  fallen 
in  with  it  at  once.  But  he  could  not  make  up  his  mind 
as  to  the  right  course  to  be  pursued.  He  was  actually 
overcome  with  the  sudden  horror,  and  save  for  the 
futile  suggestions  he  had  made  earlier  in  the  evening,  he 
could  contribute  little  or  nothing  to  the  settlement  of 
the  question.  Not  to  mince  matters,  he  was  in  the  grip 
of  a  panic.  He  could  face  the  dangers  of  the  sea,  and 
the  perils  of  his  hazardous  profession  well  enough,  but 
this  savage  and  brutal  murder  appalled  and  unnerved 
him.  His  brother,  the  second  mate,  was  in  little  better 
case,  and  some  of  the  crew  naturally  took  their  cue  from 
these  two  officers,  one  of  whom  had  now  become  the 
captain  of  the  ship  he  was  afraid  to  board.  The 
Polynesians  and  the  remaining  Kingsmill  Islander 
counted  for  nothing,  or  worse  than  nothing.  Under 
the  unusual  and  extraordinary  conditions,  some  of  the 
older  seamen,  especially  the  only  harpooner  left  of  the 
original  crew,  the  veteran  English  sailor,  Broadribi 


The  Young  Mate  Chases  the  Ship         27 

felt  themselves  entitled  to  join  in  the  heated  discus 
sion.  The  chief  advocate  of  prompt,  bold,  decisive 
action  was  the  youngest  of  the  officers,  and  the  one  of 
lowest  rank. 

In  times  of  that  sort  of  stress  and  strain,  and  under 
circumstances  fraught  with  such  danger,  natural  qual 
ities  of  leadership  usually  determine  who  shall  take 
charge.  No  braver  man  than  Benjamin  Clough,  the 
third  mate,  ever  walked  a  deck  or  set  a  course.  Clough 
had  been  a  passed  midshipman  on  the  Essex  six 
years  before,  when  she  fought  her  famous  battle  in  the 
harbor  of  Valparaiso  against  the  Phoebe  and  the 
Cherub.  He  had  been  trained  in  the  best  school  for 
seamen  and  fighting  men  afloat,  the  American  Navy, 
in  the  last  war  with  England.  He  had  given  up  his 
naval  connection  after  peace  had  been  declared,  had 
entered  the  merchant  service,  and  had  risen  at  the  age 
of  twenty  to  the  position  of  third  officer  on  the  Sharon. 
He  was  now  approaching  his  twenty-fourth  year.  And 
that  he  had  been  appointed  to  that  important  position 
on  so  fine  a  ship  at  so  early  an  age  was  an  evidence  of 
his  character  and  characteristics. 

The  mettle  of  the  man  was  seen  in  his  first  proposi 
tion.  If  Rey  McRae  had  been  able  to  gain  the  fore  top 
and  thence  had  climbed  up  to  the  fore  royal  masthead, 
and  had  cut  the  fore  royal  stay,  it  would  have  fallen,  in 
all  probability,  into  the  water  from  the  end  of  the  fly 
ing  jib  boom.  Mr.  Clough  had  intended  to  wait  until 
dark,  drift  down  across  the  bows  of  the  ship  in  the 
whale-boat,  drop  overboard,  catch  the  stay,  climb  up  it, 
make  his  way  on  board  by  way  of  the  head  booms,  and 


28  Waif-o-the-Sea 


then  be  governed  by  circumstances  in  his  attack.  But 
that  plan,  of  course,  had  to  be  abandoned  when  the 
boy's  wounds  made  it  impossible  for  him  to  do  his  part. 
Some  other  way  had  to  be  devised.  The  young  mate's 
thoughts  naturally  went  toward  the  after  part  of  the 
ship,  since  the  possibility  of  boarding  her  forward  was 
eliminated. 

As  is  usual  in  such  ships,  a  Jacob's  ladder,  which 
is  a  rope  ladder  with  wooden  rungs,  hung  from  the 
stern.  If  he  could  get  hold  of  that,  he  could  climb 
into  the  ship  through  the  after-cabin  windows.  He 
proposed  that  in  the  course  of  the  discussion  between 
the  two  boats  which  had  drawn  away  out  of  sight 
and  out  of  hearing  from  the  ship  in  the  growing 
darkness. 

The  savages  aboard  the  Sharon  had  not  sense  enough 
to  light  any  lamps  or  lanterns,  but  the  men  in  the  boats 
were  near  enough  to  see  her  dark  outlines  against  the 
stars,  as  she  backed  and  filled  in  the  fitful  breeze  which, 
fortunately,  still  continued  light,  although  there  was  a 
threatening  cloud-bank  on  the  horizon.  The  two  Brace 
brothers  were  still  determined  upon  abandoning  the 
ship  and  making  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  nearest 
islands,  about  forty  leagues  to  the  eastward,  and  thence 
northeasterly  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  Which  lay  about 
two  hundred  leagues  farther  on. 

"  It's  too  dangerous,  I  tell  you,"  urged  the  mate. 
"  We're  only  nine  white  men  and  three  natives ;  four  of 
us  have  got  to  watch  these  savages  in  the  boats;  that 
leaves  but  five  for  boarding.  It  can't  be  done." 

"We're  practically  unarmed  save  for  dtir  knives," 


The  Young  Mate  Chases  the  Ship         29 

eagerly  chimed  in  the  second  mate,  conveniently 
oblivious  to  the  remaining  harpoons  and  lances  in  the 
boats,  "  and  what  show  would  we  have  with  those  blood 
thirsty  madmen  if  we  tried  to  board  her  ?  " 

"  They'd  cut  us  down  before  ever  one  of  us  set  foot 
on  deck,"  continued  the  first  officer,  who  had  completely 
lost  his  head. 

"  It's  a  pity,  of  course,  but  the  best  thing  for  us  to 
do  is  to  give  her  up  and  make  the  best  of  our  way  to 
Christmas  Island,"  urged  the  second  officer. 

But  Clough  swore  by  all  that  was  holy  that  he 
would  not  give  up  the  ship,  and  more  than  that,  that  he 
would  not  abandon  the  boy. 

"  Be  reasonable,  man.  He  is  probably  dead  by  this 
time,"  urged  the  cowardly  mate. 

"Well,  if  he  is  done  for,  it  will  be  another  score 
against  those  murderous  savages,"  bitterly  returned 
the  other,  who  was  not  at  all  willing  to  be  reasonable, 
according  to  the  mate's  ideas  of  reason.  "  Captain 
Norris  placed  that  boy  under  my  charge.  He  told  me 
to  teach  him  seamanship  and  navigation.  I  like  the 
lad,  and  by  God,  I'll  not  desert  him." 

"But  if  he  is  dead?" 

"  If  he  is  dead  I  will  avenge  him,  and  I  want  to  tell 
you,  Tom  Brace,"  he  continued  abruptly,  throwing 
discipline  and  sailorly  subordination  to  the  winds  in  his 
anger,  "  that  if  you  sail  away  and  leave  that  boy,  you're 
a  damned  coward.  They  will  think  worse  of  you  down 
East  than  they  did  of  old  Floyd  Ireson.  You  remem 
ber  how  the  women  of  Marblehead  tarred  and  feathered 
him  for  much  the  same  sort  of  conduct.  And  how  you 


30  Waif-o-the-Sea 


will  settle  with  your  conscience  for  it,  I  can't  see,"  he 
added,  in  a  stubborn  contempt,  which  he  was  at  no 
pains  to  conceal. 

"You  are  not  the  keeper  of  my  conscience,  Mr. 
Clough,"  returned  Brace,  with  great  asperity,  yet  rather 
weakly,  for  he  could  not  escape  the  conviction  that  the 
rebuke  was  merited. 

"  No,  I  am  not,"  was  the  scornful,  insubordinate 
answer.  "It  seems  to  me  that  would  be  too  small  a 
job  for  any  full-grown  man." 

"And  I'll  have  you  know  that  I  am  in  command  of 
the  ship  now  that  poor  Captain  Norris  is  gone," 
blustered  the  mate. 

"  Very  well ;  if  you  won't  exercise  your  command,  I 
will.  Here,  lads."  He  stood  up  in  the  boat  and  faced 
the  other  boat,  which  was  close  by.  "  We  aren't  going 
to  lose  so  fine  a  ship  as  that,  are  we?" 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  Broadrib  promptly.  "  I'm  with 
you  for  tryin'  it." 

Two  other  seamen  made  the  same  reply. 

"And  what  kind  of  sailormen  would  we  be  if  we  left 
a  boy,  and  as  good  and  plucky  a  boy  as  young  Rey  Mc- 
Rae,  to  be  butchered  by  those  mutinous  brutes?"  con 
tinued  Mr.  Clough  earnestly. 

Again  a  little  chorus  of  approval  came  from  the  three 
who  had  spoken  before. 

"  I  utterly  refuse,"  said  the  mate  angrily,  "  to  sanc 
tion  an  attack  upon  the  ship." 

"  I  will  hold  you  to  your  first  proposition  then,"  said 
Mr.  Clough  coolly.  "Take  everybody  that  doesn't 
want  to  join  me  into  your  boat,  including  the  natives, 


The  Young  Mate  Chases  the  Ship         31 

and  let  everybody  that  will  volunteer  go  with  me  in  the 
other." 

The  mate  started  to  say  something  further,  but 
Clough,  at  the  end  of  his  patience,  turned  on  him,  shak 
ing  his  fist  at  him. 

"  Refuse  at  your  peril,"  he  roared.  "  If  we  ever  get 
out  of  this,  the  whole  of  New  Bedford  is  going  to  hear 
how  you  and  your  cowardly  brother  have  behaved. 
Oh,  yes,  you  can  put  me  in  irons  if  we  ever  get  back 
aboard  ship,  but  you  can't  do  it  here,  and  you  can't 
silence  me  anywhere  unless  you  kill  me,"  continued  the 
other  vehemently.  Then,  not  giving  the  mate  time  to 
reply,  he  turned  to  the  men.  "  Who  will  go  with  me?  " 

"  It  is  a  foolhardy,  dangerous  experiment,"  shouted 
the  younger  Brace  looking  toward  the  men  in  the  boats. 

"  That  is  the  reason  I  am  asking  for  volunteers,"  re 
turned  Clough. 

"  You  are  taking  your  lives  in  your  hands,"  persisted 
the  mate.  "  Those  savages  are  crazy.  They  will " 

"Does  anyone  volunteer?" 

"  Count  me  with  you,  sir,"  said  old  Broadrib,  lifting 
up  his  hand. 

"And  me!"  "And  me!"  answered  two  younger 
sailors. 

The  rest,  good  enough  men,  but  intimidated  and  un 
nerved  by  the  mate's  remarks,  said  nothing. 

"  Four  of  us  will  be  enough,  since  nobody  else  offers," 
said  Mr.  Clough.  "  Here,  we'll  take  the  second  mate's 
boat.  That's  the  smaller  of  the  two." 

It  so  happened  that  the  two  seamen  who  had  volun 
teered  were  already  in  the  second  mate's  boat.  The 


32  IVaif-o-the-Sea 


two  whale-boats  were  floating  side  by  side  and  Clough 
promptly  picked  up  the  boat  hook,  fastened  it  on  the 
bow  of  the  other  boat  and  drew  them  close  together 
without  troubling  himself  for  the  permission  or  sanction 
of  anyone. 

"  Look  out  for  your  oars,  men,"  he  said  to  the  men 
as  the  two  boats  swung  together  side  by  side.  "  Now 
the  rest  of  you  cowards  tumble  out  of  that  boat  and 
give  her  to  the  men  who  aren't  afraid." 

The  second  mate  started  to  protest,  but  old  Broadrib, 
who  was  the  biggest  man  on  the  ship,  rose  from  his 
seat,  stepped  over  into  the  other  boat,  told  the  Poly 
nesian  to  get  out,  which  he  did  without  any  hesitation, 
and  the  majority  of  that  boat's  crew  now  being  on  the 
side  of  Mr.  Clough,  Nathan  Brace  concluded  that  the 
best  thing  for  him  to  do  would  be  to  accept  the  situation. 
Accordingly  he  stepped  over  into  his  brother  Tom's  boat. 

"  Come  on,  Mr.  Clough,  git  aboard,"  said  the  har- 
pooner,  and  the  next  minute  the  two  boats  separated. 

"We  will  show  a  light  from  the  ship  when  we  suc 
ceed,"  said  Clough.  "And  when  you  see  it,  it  will 
be  safe  for  you  cowards  to  come  alongside." 

"  I  can't  stand  this,"  suddenly  burst  out  a  young  sea 
man  left  in  the  mate's  boat.  "  Let  me  go  with  you,  Mr. 
Clough." 

"  I'll  go  too,"  cried  another,  thoroughly  ashamed  of 
the  craven  part  he  had  played. 

"And  I,"  said  a  third. 

"  It  does  you  credit,  lads,  even  though  it  comes  late," 
said  Clough.  "  But  just  stay  in  your  boat  and  we'll  do 
the  work  for  you.  I  am  glad  you  showed  some  spirit 


The  Young  Mate  Chases  the  Ship         33 

even  if  late.  Now  get  out  the  oars.  You  sit  to  star 
board,  Broadrib.  You  are  big  enough  to  pull  against 
the  other  two.  I'll  steer.  Give  way  gently." 

In  a  short  time  under  the  lusty  strokes  of  the  men 
they  had  pulled  some  distance  from  the  other  boat  and 
correspondingly  nearer  the  ship. 

"What's  your  plan,  Mr.  Clough,  if  I  may  make  so 
bold  as  to  ask?"  said  old  Broadrib  as  the  young  mate 
gave  orders  to  cease  rowing. 

"  I  think  if  we  can  get  aboard  by  stratagem  that  will 
be  the  best  way.  If  those  savages  are  on  the  lookout, 
and  we  have  no  reason  to  suppose  they  are  not,  they 
would  see  the  boat  before  we  could  reach  the  ship.  We 
will  go  as  near  as  we  can  without  being  observed,  and 
then  I  will  slip  overboard,  swim  astern,  catch  hold  of 
the  Jacob's  ladder,  climb  up,  and  get  into  the  cabin. 
Once  aboard  I  will  be  governed  by  circumstances.  I 
have  no  doubt  I  can  barricade  the  cabin  and  attract 
their  attention  to  it,  and  while  they  are  engaged  with 
me,  you  can  board  by  way  of  the  main  chains,  or 
through  the  gangway,  and  take  them  in  the  rear.  Under 
stand?" 

"  Perfectly,  sir,"  said  old  Broadrib. 

"And  you  other  lads?" 

"Aye,  aye,  sir." 

"Well,  then,  give  way  again,  but  slowly.  Easy, 
lads,  easy,"  continued  the  mate  as  they  approached 
nearer  the  ship. 

He  did  not  draw  very  near,  because  if  he  were  discov 
ered  it  would  be  fatal.  What  he  was  about  to  do  was 
an  undertaking  filled  with  great  risks.  For  one  thing, 


34  Waif-o-the-Sea 


there  were  apt  to  be  sharks  about.  There  was  always 
a  chance  that  one  might  seize  him.  If  he  were  seen 
from  the  ship  the  three  men  would  certainly  strive  to 
prevent  him  boarding  her.  They  could  easily  kill  him 
while  he  was  in  the  water,  or  when  he  was  scrambling 
up  the  ladder.  Still,  there  was  no  other  way.  To  have 
attempted  to  board  her  openly  by  the  main  chains  would 
have  been  difficult  unless  both  boats  tried  it,  one  on 
each  side.  It  was  possible  to  get  aboard  the  ship  that 
way,  but  it  would  mean  a  lot  of  noise  and  a  fight  either 
on  the  rail  or  the  open  deck.  Through  the  cabin  was 
the  safest,  most  promising  way. 

The  ship  was  only  two  degrees  north  of  the  line  by 
the  last  observation.  The  water  was  warm  and  pleas 
ant.  Clough  stripped  himself  to  his  white  undershirt 
and  drawers,  slung  his  sheath  knife  around  his  neck  and 
slipped  into  the  water.  He  struck  out  boldly,  although 
he  swam  noiselessly  and  with  little  splashing. 

Just  as  he  had  congratulated  himself  that  a  few  more 
strokes  would  bring  him  within  reach  of  the  Jacob's 
ladder,  a  sudden  shift  of  the  wind  whirled  the  Sharon 
away  from  him.  Of  course,  having  no  hand  at  the  helm, 
she  was  under  no  control  at  all.  As  she  swung  about 
her  sails  filled  and  she  moved  rapidly  away.  Mr. 
Clough  was  one  of  the  best  swimmers  in  New  England, 
which  was  as  fortunate  as  it  was  unusual  for  a  sailor, 
some  of  whom  never  learn  to  swim,  though  their  whole 
lives  are  passed  at  sea;  for  by  a  tantalizing  series  of 
shifts  and  changes  of  the  variable  breeze  he  was  actually 
much  over  one  hour  in  the  water  before  he  finally  got 
his  hand  on  the  Jacob's  ladder. 


The  Young  Mate  Chases  the  Ship         35 

He  had  two  motives  for  his  persistency,  either  of 
them  powerful  enough  to  account  for  his  dogged  perse 
verance.  The  first  was  his  professional  pride;  he  would 
by  no  means  give  up  the  ship,  allow  himself  to  be  beaten 
by  those  mutinous  and  murdering  savages.  The  second 
was  his  great  and  to  himself  somewhat  inexplicable 
liking  for  Rey  McRae.  He  had  never  before  realized 
how  fond  he  had  grown  of  the  bright  and  handsome 
lad.  He  would  save  him  from  Captain  Norris'  dread 
ful  fate  at  whatever  cost.  So  he  had  continued  the 
unequal  battle  —  one  single  man  in  a  mighty  waste  of 
sea,  pursuing  a  great  and  masterless  ship,  one  little  bit 
of  human  flotsam  kept  afloat  by  courage  begot  of  pride 
and  affection! 

Some  of  this  time  he  was  so  near  the  erratic  ship  that 
anyone  looking  over  the  bulwarks  or  rail  would  infalli 
bly  have  seen  him.  At  such  moments  he  did  not  dare 
even  to  take  a  stroke,  but  resorted  to  treading  water. 
Sometimes  he  floated,  but  only  when  he  was  some  dis 
tance  away,  for  his  white-clad  body  in  the  black  waters 
would  easily  have  been  detected.  Fortunately,  he  met 
with  no  shark  while  he  fought  indomitably. 

He  had  given  the  men  in  the  boat  strict  orders  to 
keep  the  ship  in  sight,  but  to  wait  a  signal  or  a  call  before 
trying  to  board.  They  did  not  know  whether  he  had 
got  aboard  or  not,  but  old  Broadrib  was  a  man  used  to 
obeying  orders,  so  he  possessed  his  soul  in  patience, 
although  it  was  terribly  hard.  He  surmised,  in  fact, 
that  the  constant  shifting  of  the  position  of  the  ship 
had  rendered  it  difficult  for  Mr.  Clough  to  get  aboard. 
He  felt  no  apprehensions,  however,  for  his  fate,  for  he 


36  JVaif-0-the-Sea 


knew  he  was  one  of  the  best  swimmers  of  the  crew  and 
he  believed  that  sooner  or  later  he  would  make  it.  Of 
course,  the  officer  might  have  been  seized  with  a  cramp, 
or  caught  by  a  shark,  but  in  that  case  the  men  in  the 
boat  would  certainly  have  heard  a  cry  for  help. 

They  sat  quietly  in  the  boat,  waiting  and  listening 
with  all  their  ears.  They  gave  the  boat  just  enough 
way  to  keep  at  a  right  distance  from  the  erratic  ship, 
whose  bulk  and  top-hamper  they  could  make  out  against 
the  stars.  Incidentally,  they  heard  and  saw  nothing  of 
the  other  boat.  They  wondered  if  she  had  not  deserted 
them,  deeming  it  useless  to  linger  near  the  ship  any 
longer.  They  judged  it  to  be  about  an  hour  and  a  half 
after  Mr.  Clough's  departure  before  they  heard  faintly 
some  kind  of  a  sound  coming  from  the  stern  of  the  ship, 
which  in  its  drifting  course  happened  to  be  nearer  them 
than  at  any  time  before.  They  decided  it  could  only 
come  from  the  mate,  who  must  have  got  aboard  and 
fallen  foul  of  one  of  the  savages.  Glad  of  any  excuse 
for  action,  they  bent  eagerly  to  their  oars,  therefore, 
and  the  light  whale-boat  was  soon  leaping  over  the 
black  water  toward  the  big  ship. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE   FIGHT   IN   THE   DARK 

THE  hour  and  a  half  that  the  mate  had  spent  in  the 
water  was  the  longest  he  ever  passed  in  his  life. 
He  was  consumed  with  maddening  anxiety.  Several 
times  he  had  almost  made  the  capricious  ship,  only  to  see 
her  fall  off  and  fade  away  from  him.  He  wondered  if  he 
would  ever  succeed  in  reaching  her.  Sometimes  he 
thought  that  he  would  better  abandon  the  attempt  in 
that  way,  swim  back  to  the  boat  and  boldly  row  along 
side  the  ship  and  board  her  openly  at  whatever  risk  of 
detection  and  possible,  nay,  certain,  opposition.  He  had 
to  dismiss  those  fleeting  thoughts,  however,  when  he 
discovered  that  he  had  completely  lost  the  bearings  of 
his  boat.  He  could  not  see  her  from  the  surface  of  the 
water.  He  had  no  idea  where  she  was.  It  was  the  ship 
or  nothing.  Well,  he  was  rather  glad  on  the  whole  that 
no  alternative  presented  itself.  Desperately  he  renewed 
his  pursuit  of  the  Sharon.  As  he  struck  out  bravely 
again  and  again  he  resolved  that  he  would  not  be  beaten 
by  all  the  winds  that  blew  upon  the  broad  Pacific  Ocean  1 
He  swore  he'd  rather  die  himself  than  give  up. 

A  mist  was  stealing  over  the  heavens  again,  blotting 
out  the  stars  so  that  amid  all  the  shifts  and  changes  he 
had  made  in  pursuing  the  ship,  he  lost  all  sense  of  direc 
tion.  Sometimes  as  she  glided,  ghostlike,  silently  away 

37 


38  Waif-o-the-Sea 


from  him,  he  had  difficulty  in  keeping  her  in  view  in  the 
growing  obscurity  and  thickening  haze.  Two  or  three 
times  he  was  tempted  to  hail  the  ship  in  the  hope  of 
getting  an  answer  from  the  boy.  But  of  course  that 
would  have  been  fatal  to  his  purpose  of  concealment 
and  his  design  of  surprise,  so  he  kept  grimly  silent, 
although  consumed  with  apprehension,  while  he  pur 
sued  the  fleeting,  wayward  vessel. 

If  there  had  been  an  observer,  it  would  have  been  a 
curious  spectacle,  a  half  naked  man  swimming  in  the 
center  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  after  a  huge  uncontroled 
ship.  Never  had  the  Sharon  behaved  so  erratically.  It 
was  maddening.  Just  when  he  thought  he  had  her,  she 
would  be  whisked  out  of  his  reach  as  if  some  gigantic 
hand  were  moving  her  away  on  purpose  to  tantalize 
him. 

His  inability  only  made  him  the  more  determined. 
He  set  his  teeth  and  swore  that  he  would  get  to  that  ship 
if  he  had  to  swim  after  her  to  the  South  American  coast, 
toward  which  she  was,  generally  speaking,  heading  and 
drifting. 

After  a  while  he  disregarded  his  former  precautions 
and  seeing  a  chance,  struck  out  boldly.  He  half 
expected  that  he  would  have  no  better  fortune  than 
before,  but  for  a  wonder  the  wind  held  steady  and  the 
ship  did  also.  He  got  alongside  just  abaft  the  main 
chains.  Throwing  prudence  to  the  wind  in  his  despera 
tion,  he  swam  aft  toward  the  Jacob's  ladder  hanging 
astern  and  in  a  few  moments  he  reached  up  and  clutched 
the  lowest  rung. 

Victory  so  far!     He  had  no  idea   how  tired  and 


The  Fight  in  the  Dark  39 

exhausted  he  had  become,  for  his  anxiety  had  added  to 
the  weariness  induced  by  his  great  and  long-continued 
physical  exertions,  until  he  tried  to  draw  himself  up  out 
of  the  water.  It  was  almost  an  impossible  task.  Never 
theless,  he  had  not  gone  that  far  and  he  had  not  battled 
that  long  to  give  up  then. 

He  hung  on  like  grim  death,  perseveringly  struggling 
until  finally  by  a  last  superhuman  effort  he  managed  to 
drag  himself  up  on  the  ladder.  He  swung  there,  pant 
ing  and  exhausted,  for  a  little  space  to  rest  and  to 
summon  his  strength  for  what  might  be  before  him. 

As  he  swung  gently  to  and  fro  he  peered  up  past  the 
open  stern  cabin  window  expecting  any  moment  to  see 
a  black  face  out-thrust  from  it  against  the  faint  stars 
overhead,  to  hear  a  yell,  to  feel  the  descending  lance  or 
spade  or  axe  or  whatever  it  might  be.  But  the  black 
opening  of  the  window  remained  as  it  was.  Glancing 
up  farther  along  the  stern  of  the  ship,  he  saw  that  the 
rail  above  was  untenanted. 

With  a  prayer  that  he  might  be  given  strength  to  go 
through  with  his  task,  at  last  he  began  slowly  to  climb 
the  ladder.  Presently  he  got  his  hand  on  the  port  sill. 
The  next  moment  he  crawled  through  the  opening, 
stepped  cautiously  over  the  transom  and  stood  on  the 
deck  at  last.  He  had  moved  with  catlike  softness  and 
had  made  no  sound.  It  was  as  black  as  midnight  inside 
the  cabin,  but  he  knew  perfectly  well  where  he  was  and 
in  what  direction  to  go.  He  was  in  the  captain's  cabin, 
and  although  it  was  a  place  to  which  the  third  mate 
infrequently  resorted,  still  he  had  been  in  it  before  and 
he  realized  his  whereabouts.  He  hesitated  for  a 


40  IVaif-o-the-Sea 


moment,  uncertain  as  to  whether  to  try  to  light  a  lan 
tern  or  not.  He  knew  there  were  weapons  somewhere 
in  the  captain's  cabin,  but  to  strike  a  light  with  flint  and 
steel  would  inevitably  betray  him  if  anyone  were  in  the 
main  cabin  forward  of  this.  Besides  he  did  not  know 
where  these  things  were.  The  pistols  would  probably 
be  locked  up,  it  would  take  some  time  to  find  them,  he 
might  have  to  break  a  number  of  locks  to  get  at  them. 
The  better  plan  would  be  to  seek  to  surprise  the  savages 
and  make  shift  with  what  weapons  he  had. 

Detaching  his  sheath  knife  from  its  laniard  and 
baring  the  blade  he  stepped  across  the  stateroom  and 
softly  opened  the  door  into  the  main  cabin.  He  stopped 
a  moment  to  listen,  knife  uplifted.  There  was  not  a 
sound  on  the  ship  save  the  creaking  of  the  timbers,  the 
flapping  of  the  sails,  and  the  wash  of  the  water  as  she 
lifted  to  the  seas  and  swung  to  and  fro  as  the  canvas 
filled  and  emptied.  He  could  see  through  the  open  door 
in  the  break  of  the  poop  deck  a  faint  grayness,  but 
nothing  else. 

As  he  stepped  cautiously  toward  the  entrance,  his 
outstretched  foot  came  in  sudden  contact  with  some 
thing  soft  and  warm — a  human  body!  Whose?  He 
was  enlightened  on  the  instant  for  what  he  had  stepped 
on  was  very  much  alive.  It  appeared  that  one  of  the 
islanders  had  come  aft  into  the  cabin,  had  lain  down  on 
the  floor,  and  had  gone  to  sleep  after  gorging  himself 
from  cabin  stores. 

The  touch  of  the  third  mate's  bare  foot  instantly 
aroused  the  South  Sea  Islander,  who  slept  lightly  like  all 
savages.  He  scrambled  to  his  feet  with  amazing  swift- 


The  Fight  in  the  Dark  41 

ness,  and  as  he  did  so,  threw  Mr.  Clough  off  his  balance. 
The  latter  did  not  fall,  but  he  came  near  it,  and  before 
he  recovered  himself  and  could  strike  with  his  knife, 
the  savage  with  a  yell  like  a  bull  of  Bashan  closed  with 
him. 

Now  Clough  was  a  strong  young  man,  but  he  had 
been  over  an  hour  and  a  half  in  the  water,  swimming 
hard;  he  was  greatly  exhausted,  and  had  enjoyed  no 
time  to  recover  his  strength;  furthermore,  he  was  taken 
at  a  disadvantage,  and  he  was  engaged  with  a  man  who 
weighed  at  least  fifty  pounds  more  than  he,  in  the  prime 
of  life  and  who  had  been  passing  the  day  in  idleness. 
It  was  a  most  unequal  combat,  but  the  mate  fully  real 
ized  that  the  fate  of  the  men  in  the  boats,  the  fate  of 
the  boy  on  the  crosstrees,  and  the  fate  of  the  ship,  to 
say  nothing  of  his  own  life,  depended  upon  him.  [Those 
thoughts  nerved  his  arm  and  quickened  his  heart. 

With  a  sudden  and  fleeting  recognition  of  the  fact 
that  there  was  something  to  be  said  for  the  contention 
of  the  Brace  brothers  as  to  the  dangers  of  the  attempt, 
Mr.  Clough  struggled  with  the  islander  with  all  his 
might  and  in  silence.  He  had  no  breath  to  waste  in 
useless  yelling.  Of  course,  the  brown  man  had  no  skill 
in  wrestling,  but  he  had  succeeded  in  getting  a  terrible 
grip  on  the  staggering  white  man  and  he  hung  on  to  him 
like  a  boa  constrictor.  Would  brute  force  and  rage 
anJ  that  awful  grip  overcome  skill  and  determination? 

The  two  reeled  about  the  cabin  in  the  darkness,  crash 
ing  against  transoms,  doors,  tables.  Neither  was  at 
first  able  to  get  the  mastery  of  the  other.  Of  course, 
the  savage  did  not  know  with  whom  he  was  fighting  and 


42  Waif-o-the-Sea 


could  not  realize,  if  he  had  known,  how  his  antagonist 
happened  to  be  there.  He  was  fighting,  however,  in 
stinctively  like  an  animal  and  roaring  like  one. 

Mr.  Clough,  caught  in  that  strangle  hold  though  he 
was,  strove  desperately  to  free  his  arm  so  as  to  be 
able  to  make  use  of  his  knife.  Unfortunately,  the  hand 
which  held  the  knife  had  been  pinned  against  his  side 
by  the  clasp  of  the  black  man's  arms.  The  mate  had 
fought  silently  and  with  a  complete  realization  of  the 
situation.  But  'as  the  struggle  proceeded  and  as  he 
realized  that  they  were  making  a  great  noise  anyway, 
he  raised  his  voice  and  shouted  mightily  hoping  that 
Broadrib  might  be  near  enough  to  the  ship  to  hear  and 
come  to  his  rescue,  else  it  would  finally  go  hard  with  him. 

Meanwhile,  Clough  continually  strove  to  get  his 
arm  free  so  he  could  strike  with  his  knife.  The  islander 
was  fighting  like  a  beast,  trying  to  bite  him  like  an  ani 
mal.  Indeed,  once  he  did  get  his  teeth  into  the  mate's 
shoulder,  but  the  American  writhed  himself  free  and 
fought  on  with  desperation. 

It  was  that  cry  and  the  noise  they  made  fighting 
around  the  cabin  which  awoke  Rey  McRae  in  the  top. 
He,  too,  had  acquired  the  sailor's  faculty  of  awaken 
ing  with  all  his  senses  on  the  alert.  As  he  got  to  his 
feet,  forgetting  in  his  excitement  the  stiffness  and  sore 
ness  of  his  shoulder  and  arm,  he  naturally  peered  down 
toward  the  after  part  of  the  ship  whence  the  sounds 
came,  wondering  for  the  moment  what  was  happening. 
He  was  not  the  only  person  on  the  ship  who  heard  the 
shouts  of  the  mate.  The  other  two  islanders,  also  filled 
to  repletion  with  food,  had  gone  heavily  to  sleep  in  such 


The  Fight  in  the  Dark  43 

different  parts  of  the  Sharon  as  they  fancied.  The 
noise  awakened  first  one  and  then  the  other.  The  first 
one  awake  stood  bewildered  for  a  few  moments  until 
he  found  that  the  sound  came  from  the  after  cabin. 
Then  he  started  slowly  and  presently  came  stumbling 
aft  toward  the  cabin  door.  The  mate's  cry  gave  him 
panic  for  a  moment.  His  body  made  a  dark  blur  against 
the  lighter  deck  planking.  The  boy  could  easily  make 
out  his  figure. 

Rey  thought  quickly.  He  realized  of  course,  that 
somebody,  and  he  was  sure  he  recognized  the  tones  of 
the  voice  shouting  for  help,  had  boarded  the  Sharon 
by  the  stern.  He  could  see  that  there  were  but  two 
men  on  deck  and  he  knew  that  whoever  had  boarded 
her  must  be  fighting  the  third  savage  in  the  cabin.  If 
the  other  two  joined  forces  with  that  man,  that  would 
be  the  end  of  the  man  in  the  cabin. 

What  could  he  do?  A  huge  treble-sheaved  spare  top- 
block  lay  in  the  top.  He  had  noticed  it  when  he  came 
down  and  had  thought  then  that  it  might  prove  handy 
as  a  weapon  if  the  savages  attempted  to  rush  the  top. 
He  had  cast  it  loose  for  that  purpose.  It  lay  ready  to 
his  hand.  The  boy  had  been  trained  in  a  good  school; 
to  think  was  to  act.  He  seized  the  topblock  and  lifted 
it  above  his  head  in  spite  of  the  pain  that  the  move 
ment  gave  him.  He  had  to  use  two  hands  to  do  it,  it 
was  so  big  and  heavy.  Just  as  the  first  savage  stooped 
toward  the  door  at  the  break  of  the  poop  Rey  threw 
the  block  mightily.  He  used  such  force  that  the  strain 
tore  open  the  wound  in  his  shoulder.  But  his  aim  was 
pferfect.  The  Bfock  struck  the  islander  on  the  sfdc  of 


44  Walf-o-the-Sea 


the  head  and  knocked  him  down.  He  fell  across  the 
doorway  and  lay  motionless. 

Meanwhile  the  tumult  in  the  cabin  had  continued,  the 
shouts  of  the  white  man  being  half  drowned  by  the 
yells  of  the  islander;  but  now  one  voice  suddenly 
stopped.  Clough  had  wrenched  his  right  hand  free 
at  last;  he  had  struck  desperately  with  his  knife,  and 
the  islander  had  gone  to  his  account.  The  next  moment 
Key  McRae,  still  clinging  to  the  rail  of  the  top,  glimpsed 
a  white,  ghostly  looking  figure  coming  out  through  the 
cabin  door. 

"Look  out  I"  he  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice. 
"  There  is  another  one !  Look  out  1 " 

But  the  third  islander  who  had  stopped  at  the  body 
of  the  second  had  no  stomach  for  a  further  fight.  He 
stood  in  uncertain  terror  for  a  moment,  and  then  as 
Clough  leaped  at  him  he  turned  and  ran  forward,  disap 
pearing  in  the  darkness.  The  next  moment  the  whale- 
boat  came  grinding  alongside  to  starboard  and  a  few 
seconds  thereafter  Broadrib  sprang  over  the  rail  by 
way  of  the  main  chains. 

"Mr.  Clough!"  he  shouted. 

"All  right,"  answered  the  mate  cheerily. 

"  It  was  a  long  wait,  sir." 

"Yes,  I  just  got  aboard." 

"An'  the  Injuns?"  asked  the  harpooner,  giving  the 
men  the  common  name  by  which  they  were  described. 

"  One  of  them  is  dead  in  the  cabin,  one  is  here  and 
the  third  has  gone  forward." 

"An'  the  lad,  sir." 

"  He  hailed  me  from  the  top  a  moment  ago,  wiarn- 


The  Fight  in  the  Dark  45 

ing  me,  and  I  think  that  he  probably  saved  my  life  by  it. 
Wait,"  said  the  mate,  breaking  off.  "Ahoy  the  top," 
he  shouted.  "  Rey,  where  are  you?" 

But  no  answer  came  to  the  hail. 

"  I  guess  we  better  make  a  light,  sir,"  said  old  Broad- 
rib,  "then  we  can  see  where  we  stand." 

"Good,"  said  Clough. 

"There  ought  to  be  some  fire  for'ard  still,  an'  I'll 
have  a  lantern  aglow  in  a  jiffy,"  answered  the  harpooner, 
turning  forward. 

"Take  care  of  yourself.  There  is  a  third  savage 
loose  on  the  ship." 

"  Is  he  in  the  galley?  "  asked  the  harpooner,  referring 
to  the  kitchen,  which  was  a  built-up  house  on  the  deck 
forward  of  the  main  mast  near  the  try-pots. 

"No,  he  went  clear  for'ard." 

"  I'll  watch  out  for  him,  sir,"  answered  Broadrib, 
moving  away. 

Mr.  Clough,  still  in  a  fever  of  anxiety  as  he  sought 
to  recover  breath  and  strength  again,  for  the  battle  in 
the  dark  had  taxed  him  to  the  uttermost,  heard  him 
moving  about  among  the  pots  and  pans.  Presently  he 
came  aft  carrying  a  ship's  lantern  lighted.  Meanwhile 
the  mate  had  called  to  the  two  remaining  men  in  the 
boat  to  come  aboard,  which  they  hastened  to  do. 

By  the  time  the  old  seaman  got  back  to  the  quarter 
deck,  there  were  four  men  on  the  deck  of  the  Sharon, 
with  a  lantern. 

"Shall  we  show  the  light  to  the  other  boat,  sir?" 
asked  the  harpooner. 

"Yes,    presently,    of    course,"    answered    Clough. 


46  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"Two  of  you  bring  up  the  dead  body  of  the  man  from 
the  cabin  and  lay  him  on  the  deck.  Meanwhile  let  us 
see  what  is  the  matter  with  this  one."  He  bent  over  him 
and  turned  him  over.  "Stone  dead!"  he  said.  "I 
wonder " 

"This  is  what  done  it,  sir,"  answered  one  of  the  sail 
ors  named  Rice,  who  had  taken  the  lantern. 

He  picked  up  a  huge  topblock  which  had  rolled  to 
leeward. 

14  The  boy  must  have  throwed  it  from  the  top,"  said 
Storey,  the  other  one. 

"Aye,"  said  the  mate.  "  Main  top  there,"  he  yelled 
again,  and  as  no  answer  came,  he  added  with  growing 
alarm:  "  Rice,  jump  up  there  and  see  what  has  become 
of  the  boy.  He  may  need  help.  You  go  with  him, 
Storey,"  he  said  to  the  other  man.  "  Bear  a  hand,  lads. 
Now  show  the  lantern  over  the  side  as  a  signal  to  the 
other  boat,  Broadrib." 

While  the  harpooner  who  had  just  dragged  the  other 
dead  islander  from  the  cabin  swung  his  lantern  vigor 
ously  at  either  gangway,  Rice  and  Storey  clambered  up 
the  main  top. 

"  Boy's  here,  sir,  but  he  has  fainted  or  is  dead," 
hailed  one  of  the  men. 

"  There's  a  tackle  up  there,  isn't  there,  or  a  top- 
burton  ?  "  answered  Clough  promptly,  but  with  a  sudden 
sinking  of  the  heart. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Bend  him  on  to  it  and  send  him  down,  gently," 
ordered  the  mate.  "I  hope  to  heaven  he  isn't  dead," 
he  said,  as  the  men  having  speedily  and  skilfully  obeyed 


The  Fight  in  the  Dark  47 

his  orders,  he  caught  the  lad,  and  eased  him  to  the 
deck.  A  brief  inspection  indicated  that  the  boy  had 
only  fainted.  ;'  You  keep  watch  here  a  moment  or  two, 
Broadrib,"  said  the  mate,  picking  up  the  boy.  "I'll 
take  him  to  my  cabin.  I  will  get  some  dry  clothes  on 
myself  and  see  what's  the  matter  with  Rey.  Remember, 
there  is  one  islander  loose  on  the  ship.  The  other  boat 
will  probably  be  alongside  in  a  few  minutes  and  then 
we  will  make  a  search  for  him." 

But  Mr.  Clough  was  gone  much  longer  than  he  antici 
pated.  Some  ten  or  fifteen  minutes  had  elapsed  before 
he  again  came  out  on  deck,  now  completely  clothed  in 
a  dry  uniform.  He  had  brought  a  sou'wester  and  a 
heavy  oilskin  coat  with  him,  sensing  as  a  true  seaman 
some  sort  of  a  change  in  the  weather. 

The  men  had  now  lighted  the  lanterns  that  were 
fastened  to  the  break  of  the  poop,  as  well  as  the  binnacle 
lamp,  and  these  with  that  held  by  Broadrib  plainly 
revealed  the  mate's  face  to  the  three  waiting  seamen. 
They  could  not  fail  to  note  its  look  of  amazement,  not 
to  say  complete  bewilderment  mingled  with  a  certain 
dismay  or  alarm;  the  frank  and  open  young  man  not 
being  skilled  in  concealing  his  feelings.  Broadrib,  the 
senior  of  the  three  and  a  privileged  character,  pre 
sumed  to  question  his  superior. 

"Good  God,  Mr.  Clough,  sir,  what's  the  matter?" 

"  Why,  nothing  —  er  —  I've  had  a  shock,  I'll  admit." 

"Is  it  young  Rey,  sir?"  broke  in  Rice. 

"  I  hope  there  ain't  nothin'  serious  the  matter  with 
him,  sir,"  chimed  in  Storey. 

"No,    he's    right    enough,"     answered    the    mate 


Waif-o-the-Sea 


promptly,  "  save  for  a  rather  deep  cut  in  his  shoulder 
and  some  loss  of  blood  —  you  see,  it's  —  er  —  the  ship 
_and » 

Every  man  there  was  weatherwise  enough  to  recog 
nize  the  situation  and  in  their  sensing  of  danger,  instinc 
tive  with  a  seaman,  dough's  lame  explanation  passed 
without  further  comment  or  notice.  Old  Broadrib, 
indeed,  realized  that  the  mate  had  not  committed 
himself  at  all,  but  he  said  nothing.  There  were  other 
things  of  more  pressing  importance  for  their  consider 
ation  anyway.  The  explanation  of  the  mate's  dismay 
could,  nay  must,  wait. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  MATE'S  DISCOVERY 

WHEN  Mr.  Clough  had  carried  the  unconscious 
Rey  into  the  main  cabin  he  had  laid  him  gently 
down  on  one  of  the  transoms  and  finding  flint,  steel, 
and  tinder  box  at  hand,  seen  easily  by  the  light  thrown 
within  the  door  from  the  lantern  at  the  break  of  the 
poop  which  one  of  the  men  had  just  lighted,  he  lighted 
the  swinging  oil  lamp  and  turned  to  examine  the  lad 
more  carefully  than  he  had  been  able  to  do  heretofore. 

Rey  had  not  yet  recovered  consciousness.  He  lay 
just  as  the  mate  had  placed  him,  apparently  utterly 
collapsed,  his  head  thrown  back,  his  eyes  closed,  his 
face  under  his  bright  hair  deathly  white,  every  muscle 
relaxed.  Mr.  Clough  bent  over  him  in  great  anxiety. 
The  boy  was  breathing  faintly,  that  was  plain  enough  to 
the  mate's  searching  glance.  There  was  a  dark  red 
stain  on  his  shirt  at  his  shoulder,  his  left  shoulder  for 
tunately,  the  mate  noticed.  His  shirt  was  open  at  the 
throat.  He  was  lightly  clad  for  the  tropic  weather, 
and  had  gone  aloft  without  his  jacket.  The  light  fell 
fairly  upon  him  from  the  hanging  lamp  and  the  mate 
noticed  that  the  blood-stain  at  the  shoulder  was  grow 
ing  larger.  The  blood  was  flowing  from  an  open  wound. 
It  must  be  stanched  and  the  wound  dressed  at  once. 

Without  ceremony  the  mate  lifted  the  boy  up,  his 

49 


50  Waif-o-the-Sea 


fingers  sought  the  opening  in  the  shirt.  He  tore  it  down 
the  front  and  then  ripped  it  sideways  to  expose  the 
shoulder.  He  had  worked  rapidly  if  somewhat  mechan 
ically,  trusting  to  his  sense  of  touch  —  it  was  no  great 
matter  to  tear  open  a  boy's  shirt — his  eyes  meanwhile 
roving  the  cabin  for  the  pitcher  of  water  that  usually 
sat  upon  the  table  in  its  cradle  in  fair  weather,  but  which 
he  and  the  struggling  Papuan  had  tumbled  to  the  deck 
during  their  battle  in  the  cabin. 

Suddenly  he  stopped  and  remained  motionless  in 
bewildered  surprise.  Then  he  withdrew  his  hand  with  a 
quick  movement,  lowered  his  still  unconscious  burden 
to  the  transom  and  bent  over  him  in  an  amazement  that 
was  almost  a  panic.  The  young  mate's  weather-beaten 
countenance  had  been  a  little  pale  from  his  previous 
exertions.  It  suddenly  crimsoned  through  its  tan.  He 
stared  down  at  the  other  occupant  of  the  cabin.  He 
caught  a  glimpse  of  a  slender  neck,  the  whiter  by  con 
trast  with  the  brown  of  wind  and  sun  of  the  youthful 
face  above  it.  The  open  shirt  disclosed  more  than  a 
skin  of  dazzling  whiteness.  He  sensed  a  growing  curve, 
a  little  trim  up-springing  of  the  breast,  a  maiden  shrine, 
so  unwittingly  profaned.  In  a  word  the  person  before 
him  was  a  girl  —  a  woman  ! 

dough's  first  motion  did  credit  to  his  manhood. 
He  carefully  drew  the  torn  edges  of  the  shirt  together 
over  the  breast  of  his  companion.  Then  he  turned 
quickly  to  the  cabin  door  and  closed  it,  thrusting  home 
the  bolt  lest  someone  should  blunder  in  and  surprise 
the  secret  which  he  felt  no  liberty  as  yet  to  reveal.  Then 
he  lifted  the  slight  form  of  the  girl  up  and  carried  her 


The  Mate's  Discovery 


into  her  own  cabin.  Next  he  fetched  water  and,  after 
carefully  turning  down  the  torn  shirt  at  the  transverse 
rip,  washed  the  poor  little  hurt  shoulder  —  for  so  he 
now  phrased  it  to  himself,  sex  making  all  the  difference. 

With  a  gentle  tenderness  scarcely  to  be  expected 
from  one  who  had  just  fought  the  ocean  with  mighty 
arm  and  brought  the  savage  islander  to  death,  he 
anointed  and  bandaged  the  wound,  then  he  forced  a 
drop  or  two  of  spirits  and  water  between  the  girl's  lips, 
at  the  same  time  laving  her  temples.  He  was  rewarded 
by  seeing  her  eyes  open  presently. 

She  stared  up  at  him  bending  over  her  at  first  uncom- 
prehendingly.  Then  her  hand  went  to  her  shoulder. 
Next  she  sat  up  in  her  berth,  and  as  the  torn  shirt  started 
to  fall  away  she  caught  it  together  with  her  hand  in 
frantic  instinctive  gesture. 

Her  face  flamed  with  sudden  red.  Her  eyes  filled. 
She  forgot  the  horrors  of  the  last  few  hours  to  which 
she  had  been  a  witness.  She  did  not  give  a  thought  to 
the  peril  she  had  just  gone  through,  the  dangers  that 
had  menaced  her  faded  out  of  her  recollection,  even  the 
anxiety  she  had  felt  for  the  mate  was  unheeded.  The 
consciousness  of  the  wound  in  her  shoulder  left  her  in 
the  face  of  the  demand  of  a  greater  crisis.  The  boy 
that  had  been  a  girl,  suddenly  became  a  woman.  Her 
modesty  was  to  the  fore.  Nothing  else  mattered  for 
the  moment.  There,  in  that  small  cabin,  in  that  small 
ship,  blood-stained,  tragedy-burdened,  .and  even  yet 
facing  one  of  the  greatest  perils  of  the  deep,  in  the 
lonely  waste  of  the  great  Pacific  —  the  girl  that  had 
been  a  boy  became  a  woman. 


52  Waif-o-the-Sea 


And  womanlike,  with  beating  heart  and  flaming 
cheek  she  looked  at  the  man  and  wondered. 

For  his  part  he,  too,  wondered  and  he,  too,  forgot. 
He  could  for  the  moment  recall  nothing  but  that  she 
was  a  woman.  All  his  thoughts  were  of  the  great  dis 
covery  he  had  just  made.  In  that  same  cabin,  ship,  and 
sea,  with  the  same  peril  threatening,  he  was  conscious 
of  her  sex  first  of  all. 

She  broke  the  silence  first. 

"You  know?"  she  whispered. 

"Yes." 

Her  hand  went  to  her  face  at  that.  Unthinkingly  she 
forgot  what  chanced  when  she  no  longer  held  the 
remains  of  her  torn  garment.  Ben  Clough  was  only  a 
young  merchant  sailor,  a  junior  officer  in  a  hard  rough 
service.  But  he  had  good  blood  in  him.  He  looked 
quickly  away.  The  sound  of  her  low  sob  moved  him  to 
the  depths. 

"  Forgive  me,"  he  said  with  averted  glance.  "  I  had 
no  idea.  I  wanted  to  stanch  the  flow  of  blood  from 
your  shoulder." 

"I  understand,"  answered  the  girl  in  low  tones  to 
match  his  own. 

"  How  do  you  feel  now,  Rey  ?    Is  that  your  name  ?  " 

"  My  name  is  Audrey,  and  I  feel  well  enough.  Did 
that  savage  hurt  you,  Mr.  Clough  ?  " 

"  No.  But  I'd  have  been  killed  if  you  had  not  heaved 
that  topblock  on  the  other.  I  owe  my  life  to  you." 

"  It's  nothing.    We'll  all  owe  our  lives  to  you." 

Mr.  Clough  nodded.  The  fact  was  obvious,  why 
make  any  bones  about  acknowledging  it. 


The  Mate's  Discovery  53 

"  I  must  go  to  my  cabin  now  for  a  change  of  clothes  " 
—  for  the  first  time  he  was  aware  that  his  present 
attire  was  hardly  suited  to  an  interview  with  a 
woman  —  "the  ship  and  the  other  boat  need  looking 
after." 

He  turned  away  in  awkward  embarrassment. 

"Wait,"  cried  the  girl.  "Please.  You  won't  tell 
the  others  —  yet?" 

"No." 

"  How  many  men  are  aboard  now?  " 

"Four  all  told." 

"  I'll  dress  and  come  out  to  give  you  what  help  I 
can,"  she  said  as  he  turned  away. 

He  nodded  again.  He  knew  she  could  not  be  of  much 
service,  but  she  could  do  something,  hold  the  wheel 
steady  perhaps  even  if  she  were  wounded.  And  she 
thrilled  to  the  thought  that  he  accepted  her  offer  of 
service  just  as  he  would  if  she  had  been  the  boy  he  and 
all  the  others  had  fancied  her. 

The  mate's  bandaging  had  been  skilful  indeed.  It 
could  not  be  improved  upon.  He  had  put  something 
healing  in  the  open  wound  besides  water  evidently.  It 
felt  much  better.  She  found  she  could  even  use  that  left 
arm  a  little,  awkward  and  painful  as  the  effort  was. 
She  got  up,  put  on  another  shirt,  and  eVtn  managed  to 
get  into  her  pea-jacket. 

A  knock  on  the  door  interrupted  her.  She  opened  it. 
There  stood  Mr.  Clough  now  fully  dressed.  He  had 
some  ship's  bread  and  a  slice  of  cold  ham  in  his  hands. 

"  Eat,"  said  he.  "  You'll  need  your  strength.  Please 
don't  come  out  on  detk  until  I  tfdl  ytfu.  One  of  the 


54  Waif-o-the-Sea 


savages  is  still  aboard  and  I'd  rather  you'd  stay  snug 
in  here  until " 

She  nodded.  The  whole  situation  indicated  the 
changed  relationship.  Before  she  would  have  waited 
upon  him.  Before  he  would  have  ordered  instead  of 
requested  her.  Yes,  she  was  a  woman!  He  knew  it, 
realized  it.  That  made  all  the  difference  in  the  world. 
She  smiled.  And  then  she  set  to  work  on  the  provisions 
with  a  zest,  waiting  the  summons  she  knew  would  come, 
with  an  eagerness  she  was  at  no  pains  to  disguise. 

No  wonder  Mr.  Clough  looked  thoughtful  and  a 
little  appalled  when  he  confronted  the  men. 

There  was  a  woman  aboard  the  ship  —  where  no 
woman  had  a  right  to  be ! 

And  yet  the  young  mate  was  glad  she  was  there,  for 
he  knew  instantly  that  she  meant  a  great  deal  to  him 
now.  Even  when  he  thought  her  a  boy  he  had  liked  her 
extremely,  better  than  anyone  he  knew,  and  now 


CHAPTER  VI 

IN  THE  GRIP  OF  THE  STORM 

IT  WAS  well  that  Clough  had  not  lingered  in  the 
cabin   any   longer,    for   old   Broadrib,    dismissing 
the  previous  affair  from  his  mind,  began  again,  with 
even  greater  anxiety  in  his  voice  after  that  first  ex 
clamation  of  surprise  at  the  mate's  appearance. 

"  I  was  just  comin'  aft  to  call  you,  sir." 

Clough  realized  instantly  why  Broadrib  had  been 
so  desirous  of  summoning  him  and  what  he  feared. 
Like  every  other  sailor,  so  soon  as  he  came  out  on 
deck  he  had  cast  a  glance  to  windward  and  then  he  had 
rapidly  swept  the  whole  sky  with  his  vision.  What  he 
saw  was  not  reassuring.  There  was  not  a  single  star 
visible.  It  was  as  black  as  Egypt.  What  little  wind 
there  had  been  before  had  almost  died  away.  Blaming 
himself  for  not  having  looked  at  the  barometer  before, 
although  it  could  reveal  little  more  than  his  weather 
sense  told  him,  he  seized  Broadrib's  lantern  and 
inspected  the  glass.  It  had  fallen  low  indeed.  Mr. 
Clough  knew  at  once  what  was  toward. 

That  haze  had  grown  thicker.  One  of  those  sudden 
and  it  might  be  tremendous  storms  of  the  tropics  was 
at  hand.  Like  all  good  sailors,  Clough  acted  with 
dazzling  promptness. 

"The  other  boat?"  he  cried. 

II 


56  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"Haven't  seen  it,  sir." 

"Have  you  shown  a  light?" 

"Half  a  dozen  times." 

"Both  sides?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"There  is  wind  in  that  sky,  Broadrib,"  said  the 
mate. 

"  I'm  much  mistook  if  there  ain't  a  lot  of  it,  too," 
answered  the  harpooner. 

"  We'll  have  to  get  the  canvas  off  the  ship." 

"  With  but  four  hands,  sir  ?  "  exclaimed  old  Broadrib. 

"Exactly.  Rice,  jump  aloft  and  furl  the  mizzen 
to'gall'nt  s'l.  Broadrib,  you  are  the  biggest  and  strong 
est  of  us  all,  you  try  the  main  to'gall'nt.  Storey,  you'll 
take  the  fore  to'gall'nt " 

"And  how  about  that  Injun  for'ard,  sir?" 

"Jump  aloft,  you  two  men,"  answered  Clough  after 
a  second's  pause.  "  I'll  go  for'ard  with  Storey  and 
get  him.  Once  you  two  get  in  the  shrouds  you  are  safe." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  cried  the  two  men,  springing  into  the 
rigging  and  racing  up  it  to  perform  their  appointed 
tasks. 

"  Bear  a  hand,"  shouted  Clough  as  he  and  Storey 
ran  forward  after  casting  off  the  halliards  and  sheets 
of  the  sails  mentioned  and  easing  down  the  yards.  "  We 
aren't  going  to  have  much  leeway." 

As  he  spoke  a  blinding  flash  of  lightning  shot  down 
from  the  zenith  and  was  followed  a  few  seconds  later 
by  a  terrific  clap  of  thunder.  The  lightning  did  one 
thing.  It  discovered  to  the  mate  the  third  islander 
crouching  between  the  knightheads  forward.  He  had  a 


In  the  Grip  of  the  Storm  57 

whaling  lance  in  his  hand  and  with  a  yell  he  hurled  it 
at  the  two  seamen.  Clough,  who  was  in  advance, 
dropped  to  the  deck  and  Storey  sprang  aside.  The 
lance  buried  itself  in  the  planks  of  the  waist  abaft  them. 
The  next  moment  the  mate  was  on  him.  The  now 
badly  frightened  savage  was  taken  at  a  disadvantage. 
Before  he  could  make  a  move  Clough  struck  him, 
and  Storey  grabbed  at  him.  The  islander,  instead  of 
closing,  wrenched  himself  away  from  Storey  and  in 
panic  terror  sprang  up  on  the  rail,  and  as  the  two  men 
leaped  at  him  he  jumped  or  fell  overboard. 

"  That's  the  end  of  him,"  said  Clough  grimly.  "  Up 
aloft  with  you,  Storey,  and  take  in  the  fore  to'gall'nt  s'l. 
I'll  tend  the  sheets  and  halliards.  Quick,  for  God's 
sake,  man.  Look  at  that." 

That  was  another  flash  of  lightning  and  another  peal 
of  thunder.  It  was  followed  presently  by  a  hail  from 
Broadrib. 

"On  deck  there  I" 

"  What  is  it,  Broadrib  ?  "  answered  the  mate,  running 
aft  toward  the  wheel. 

"  I  seed  the  boat  in  that  flash." 

"Where  away?" 

"  She  looks  to  be  about  a  mile  broad  off  the  starboard 
bow,  sir." 

"  What  were  they  doing?  " 

"  Rowin'  like  mad  toward  us.  The  first  flash  must 
have  showed  us  to  'em." 

"The  Braces  are  a  pair  of  cowards,"  muttered 
Clough  to  himself  as  he  seized  the  wheel.  "  But  there 
are  good  men  in  that  boat.  I  wish  we  had  them  here. 


58  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Bear  a  hand,  lads,"  he  shouted.  "  If  we  can  get  fore 
and  mizzen  tops'ls  off  her  we'll  have  a  bit  better 
chance." 

He  could  tell  from  the  feel  of  the  wheel  that  the 
ship  was  lying  motionless  or  slowly  drifting  through 
the  water.  She  had  no  steerage  way. 

"All  ready  with  the  mizzen  to'gall'nt  s'l,"  cried 
Rice  suddenly. 

He  had  the  smallest  sail  and  the  shortest  distance 
to  go.  Broadrib  had  the  heaviest  task,  but  the  sail 
had  already  been  spilled  by  the  boy  hours  before  and 
he  presently  signified  that  he,  too,  had  finished.  Storey, 
beginning  later  and  with  a  heavier  sail  than  Rice,  had 
not  yet  completed  his  arduous  task. 

"  Lay  down  from  aloft,  Broadrib,"  shouted  the  mate. 
"We'll  all  tackle  the  mizzen  tops'l.  The  boy  —  er  — 
is  hurt,  but  I'll  call  him  and " 

"I  am  still  good  for  something,  Mr.  Clough,"  said 
Rey  at  that  moment.  She  had  been  waiting  at  the 
cabin  door  for  her  summons. 

The  thunder  and  the  lightning  and  that  sense  of 
peril  which,  even  though  so  young  and  a  woman,  she 
was  yet  sailor  enough  to  feel,  had  brought  her  out  on 
deck. 

"  I  am  not  good  for  much,  but  anyway  I  can  steer 
in  this  light  wind  with  one  hand." 

Really  Rey  felt  very  much  refreshed.  The  food  she 
had  eaten,  the  dressing  of  her  wound,  and,  above  all. 
the  relief  in  her  mind  from  the  anxieties  which  had 
nearly  wrecked  her,  made  her  another  woman.  And 
even  the  fact  that  the  mate  had  discovered  her  sex,  with 


In  the  Grip  of  the  Storm  59 

all  the  possibilities  of  the  situation,  had  contributed  to 
her  new  peace  of  mind.  Rey  was  very  fond  of  the  mate, 
with  a  liking  which  the  other  had  fancied  was  only  boy 
ish,  but  which  was  really  of  quite  another  sort  indeed. 
Under  other  circumstances  Clough  would  have  sent 
her  below  again  at  once,  but  now  her  help  would  be 
invaluable,  not  so  much  for  what  she  could  do  her 
self,  but  because  she  could  stand  by  the  wheel,  especially 
since  the  ship  was  nearly  motionless,  and  thus  enable 
Clough  to  go  aloft  and  add  his  strength  to  that  of 
the  other  three  men. 

"Good  lad!"  he  began  using  the  old  address  from 
force  of  habit.  "Take  the  wheel,"  he  continued,  with 
out  further  parley.  "  Stand  by  for  orders  from  me. 
She's  barely  got  steerage  way  now.  For'ard  there !  " 

"Aye,  Aye,  sir." 

"Got  that  to'gall'nt  s'l  stowed,  Storey?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Come  along,  Broadrib,"  said  Clough,  springing 
into  the  mizzen  top,  where  Rice  already  awaited  them. 

Meanwhile,  Storey,  having  laid  down  from  aloft,  in 
obedience  to  orders,  settled  away  the  mizzen  topsail 
halliards,  cast  off  the  sheets  and  then,  by  Mr.  dough's 
direction,  went  forward  again  and  did  the  same  thing 
for  the  fore  topsail  halliards  and  sheets.  He  did  more, 
he  put  forth  valiant  efforts  on  the  mizzen  topsail  clew 
lines  and  so  assisted  to  haul  the  sail  up  to  the  yards. 

Meanwhile  the  three  men,  Broadrib  taking  the  bunt, 
and  Rice  and  the  mate  each  one  of  the  yard  arms,  made 
shift  to  furl  the  mizzen  topsail.  The  thunder  and  the 
lightning,  now  continuous,  stimulated  them  to  quick, 


60  Waif-o-the-Sea 


desperate  work,  if  they  had  needed  any  urging  other 
than  the  sense  of  their  terrible  peril.  There  was  no 
wind  as  yet  Casting  anxious  glances  up  to  starboard 
from  time  to  time,  they  could  see  the  other  boat  re 
vealed  by  the  lightning.  She  was  nearer  now.  The 
men  were  bending  to  the  oars  and  pulling  like  mad 
men.  They  realized  that  if  they  did  not  get  aboard 
the  ship  before  the  storm  broke,  they  would  be  doomed. 
The  men  on  the  ship  realized  it,  too.  But  there  was 
nothing  they  could  do  to  help,  because  the  Sharon  had 
as  yet  no  steerage  way.  Key's  job  was  an  easy  one 
so  far. 

Presently,  having  made  all  snug  in  the  mizzen  topsail, 
the  three  men  dropped  down  to  the  deck  again. 

"Rice,"  said  Clough,  "brail  in  the  spanker  and 
settle  away  the  halliards  and  then  clap  tackles  on  the 
fore  and  main  clew  garnets  all  ready  for  us.  Storey, 
you  and  Broadrib  and  I  will  tackle  the  fore  tops'l." 

"  The  yard's  down  on  the  cap,  sir,  and  I've  got  the 
clew  lines  hauled  out,"  said  Storey. 

"Well  done,"  said  the  mate,  starting  forward. 

"  Mr.  Clough,"  interrupted  Audrey,  shuddering  a 
little  at  the  sight  as  revealed  by  the  lighting,  now  more 
frequent,  "these  dead  bodies  here?" 

"Heave  them  overboard,  Broadrib,"  said  the  mate, 
and,  without  ceremony,  the  big  harpooner  picked  them 
up  one  at  a  time,  and  dropped  them  over  the  rail. 

"How  do  you  feel,  youngster,"  asked  Clough, 
who  could  not  for  the  life  of  him,  use  any  other  address. 

"All  right  so  far,"  answered  the  girl  cheerfully 
enough. 


In  the  Grip  of  the  Storm  6 1 

Then  the  mate  ran  forward  and  soon  joined  his  com 
rades  on  the  fore  topsail  yard.  This  was  a  sail  almost 
twice  as  big  as  the  mizzen  topsail.  It  was  a  terrific  job 
for  three  men,  even  three  of  the  best,  as  those  were, 
but  they  finally  got  it  furled  after  a  fashion,  the  gaskets 
were  well  knotted,  and  a  furling  line  was  passed  about 
it  to  make  it  secure.  Then  the  three  tired  men  lay  down 
on  deck.  There  was  yet  no  rest  for  them. 

Sail  on  the  ship  had  now  been  reduced  to  the  main 
topsail,  the  head  sails  and  the  courses,  which  were  hang 
ing  in  the  brails.  Rice,  by  means  of  a  block  and  tackle 
and  with  some  assistance  from  Rey,  had  effected  the 
task  of  brailing  them  up.  They  next  lowered  the  head 
sails,  except  the  staysail,  but  they  had  not  time  to  stow 
them. 

"  Men,"  said  Mr.  Clough,  stopping  and  wiping  the 
sweat  from  his  face,  his  breath  coming  short,  his  chest 
heaving  from  the  tremendous  exertions  they  had  gone 
through  with,  "we'd  be  safer  if  we  could  get  a  reef  in 
that  main  tops'l." 

"Anything, you  says,  we'll  try,  sir,"  said  old  Broad- 
rib,  who  seemed  made  of  iron. 

Rice  and  Storey,  younger  men  and  slighter  build, 
were  almost  exhausted,  but  they  straightened  up  and 
declared  they  also  were  ready. 

"That  boat  will  be  alongside  in  five  minutes,  sir," 
said  Broadrib,  "an'  if  we  can  wait  until  then " 

But  as  he  spoke,  every  man  on  the  ship  realized  that 
all  the  grace  they  were  to  be  allowed  had  been  granted 
them,  and  there  was  to  be  no  five  minutes,  no  one 
minute  even.  With  a  sound  like  a  gigantic  sigh,  a 


6  2  Waif-o-the-Sea 


sudden  puff  of  wind  filled  the  sails.  It  died  away  in  a 
second,  it  came  stronger  the  next  moment,  and  then, 
with  a  scream  like  that  of  all  the  lost  spirits  of 
creation  since  the  world  began,  the  tempest  broke 
upon  them. 

"Hard  down  with  the  helm,  Key,"  yelled  Mr. 
Clough.  "  Down  with  it  1  Down  with  it,"  he  shouted, 
as  the  Sharon  began  to  pay  off.  "Jump  over  to  the 
lee  braces,  you  men.  Brace  up,  brace  sharp  up,"  he 
shouted,  and  then,  seeing  Rey  struggling  desperately 
with  one  arm  to  put  the  helm  down  and  force  the  ship 
up  into  the  wind,  so  that  she  would  not  fall  into  the 
trough  of  the  sea,  while  Broadrib  and  the  other  two 
men  sprang  to  their  places,  the  mate  himself  leaped  to 
the  wheel. 

He  had  to  use  all  his  strength,  and  force,  and  skill, 
and  determination,  to  hold  her  up.  For  with  a  second 
onslaught,  to  which  the  terrific  outburst  of  a  moment 
since  seemed  mere  child's  play,  the  full  fury  of  the 
sudden  tempest  was  hurled  upon  them.  The  thunder 
and  lightning  were  continuous. 

The  other  whale-boat  was  now  close  aboard.  Five 
more  minutes  —  four  —  three  —  two  —  one  even,  and 
they  might  have  gained  the  ship.  Now  it  had  become 
as  impossible  for  them  to  board  the  Sharon  as  it  would 
have  been  to  row  up  Niagara  Falls.  Indeed,  they  had 
lost  control  of  the  boat,  and  the  girl  who  had  run  up 
to  windward  at  Clough's  orders,  saw  it  overturned 
in  the  gigantic  seas.  The  lightning  revealed  to  her  a 
mass  of  tossing  heads  and  arms  and  oars,  and  then  — 
nothing  1 


In  the  Grip  of  the  Storm  63 

"She's  gone,"  she  turned,  and  shouted  down  the 
wind  between  her  hands. 

Mr.  Clough  nodded.  He  knew,  of  course,  that  no 
boat  could  survive.  He  had  other  things  to  think  of 
then.  The  ship  was  heeling  over  on  her  beam  ends, 
until  the  water  was  being  forced  in  through  the  lee  scup 
pers.  The  yards  were  now  braced  sharp  up,  the  lee 
braces  hauled  flat  aft,  they  had  done  all  that  man  could 
do.  Stop.  There  was  one  thing. 

"That  whale  alongside,"  said  Broadrib,  climbing 
aft  and  shouting  into  Mr.  Clough's  ear. 

"  Cut  it  adrift,"  said  the  mate.  "  It  is  an  awful  drag 
on  us  and  she  steers  badly  enough  as  it  is." 

Broadrib  needed  no  further  order.  With  a  whaling 
spade,  which  he  found  in  the  lee  scuppers,  where  it  had 
been  left  by  the  islanders,  he  cut  the  lashings,  and  the 
whale  drifted  away.  The  ship,  considerably  eased 
thereby,  righted,  came  to  the  wind  and  made  a  little 
better  weather  of  it  on  a  more  even  keel.  Still,  the 
relief  was  not  great.  At  a  sign  from  the  mate,  Storey 
and  Rice  came  aft  and  one  relieved  him  at  the  wheel. 
Beckoning  Broadrib,  he  climbed  up  to  windward,  where 
the  girl  clung  to  the  rail  by  the  weather  mizzen  shrouds. 

"  She'll  never  stand  the  canvas  that  is  on  her  long," 
roared  the  mate. 

"No,"  said  the  harpooneer. 

The  next  instant,  with  a  report  like  a  cannon,  the 
main  sail,  which  had  been  flapping  furiously,  tore  away, 
and  after  threshing  about  wildly,  with  the  block  swing 
ing,  so  that  no  man  could  go  near  it,  it  finally  was 
ripped  from  the  yard  and  whirled  away  by  the  wind, 


64  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


showing  for  a  moment  like  a  great  cloud  against  the 
blackness.  The  fore  sail  followed  suit  a  short  time 
after.  This  perceptibly  eased  the  ship. 

"  If  we  had  had  a  chance  to  reef  that  main  tops'l,"  said 
Clough,  "  we  would  have  been  all  right." 

"We're  all  right  yet,  sir,"  answered  the  harpooner, 
"  if  it  doesn't  blow  harder." 

The  mate  tried  to  glance  to  windward,  but  the 
force  of  the  tempest  was  so  great,  that  he  could  scarcely 
hold  his  head  up  to  it,  and  in  the  black  darkness  there 
was  little  to  see  except  the  white  wave-tops  whipped 
into  fine  wind-driven  spray,  that  cut  like  needles  when 
it  slashed  across  the  face. 

The  big  main  topmast  was  bending  and  buckling 
like  a  coach  whip.  It  seemed  to  the  two  men  that  the 
wind  was  coming  stronger.  It  was  a  stout,  honest, 
New  England  spar  and  the  sail  was  made  of  the  best 
canvas  that  could  be  woven.  The  owners  had  spared 
nothing  in  fitting  out  the  Sharon  with  everything  neces 
sary,  but  it  was  not  in  wood  and  canvas  and  hemp  and 
rope  and  iron,  to  stand  against  such  a  storm  as  that. 
Mast  and  sail  did  nobly.  They  resisted  pressure 
greater  than  their  fashioners  would  have  deemed  pos 
sible,  but  the  end  finally  came. 

With  a  mighty  crash  the  main  topmast  went  by  the 
board  and  thundered  alongside.  The  great  spar  and 
sail  threshed  to  and  fro  and  presently  the  mizzen  top 
mast  and  the  fore  topmast  went  down  in  the  wreck. 
The  fore  staysail  forward  being  now  the  only  sail  set, 
the  ship's  head  payed  off  and  she  went  drifting  before 
the  wind.  The  sail  held  nobly. 


In  the  Grip  of  the  Storm  65 

"  We've  got  to  clear  away  that  wreck,"  shouted  Mr. 
dough  in  Broadrib's  ear.  "Those  spars  battering 
alongside  will  spring  a  butt  and  we'll  founder." 

Broadrib  nodded.  He  got  three  axes.  At  a  sign 
from  the  mate,  Rice  went  back  to  the  wheel  and  re 
lieved  Storey.  The  three  other  men  went  aloft.  The 
mate  to  the  fore  top,  Broadrib  to  the  main,  Rice  to  the 
mizzen.  Working  desperately,  they  managed  at  last 
to  cut  away  the  rigging  and  the  spars  fell,  drifted  and 
dragged  or  were  swept  clear  by  the  seas.  The  loss  of 
all  the  top-hamper  relieved  the  ship  immensely.  The 
spanker  had  blown  out  of  the  brails  and  there  was 
nothing  they  could  do  but  drift  before  the  wind  under 
the  storm  staysail. 

No  one  left  the  deck  during  the  night.  But  by  after 
noon  of  the  next  day  the  sudden  tropic  storm  had  nearly 
blown  itself  out.  The  sun  broke  through  the  clouds 
to  lighten  a  bright  and  sparkling,  if  wildly  heaving  sea. 
The  wind  had  died  to  a  fresh  breeze,  but  the  waves 
would  run  high  for  a  long  time.  The  ship  itself  was 
sound  so  far  as  the  hull  was  concerned,  later  on  the 
well  and  the  pumps  told  them  that,  but  aloft  and  along 
the  crushed  and  battered  rails  she  looked  a  helpless 
ruin  as  she  rose  and  fell  in  the  tremendous  waves  which 
had  been  raised  by  the  terrific  tempest  and  which  con 
tinued  their  mad  tumbling  long  after  the  force  of  the 
wind  had  spent  itself.  She  seemed  a  wreck;  masts, 
yards,  sails,  head  booms,  boats,  lee  rails  —  everything 
above  the  tops,  gone! 

It  was  with  white,  haggard,  drawn  faces  that  the  men 
confronted  each  other.  Poor  Rey  was  more  weary 


66  Walf-o-the-Sea 


than  any  of  them.  She  had  pluckily  stuck  to  her  post 
and  done  what  she  could.  Now  she  was  in  a  state  of 
utter  collapse.  Clough  had  nothing  but  praise  for  her. 

"We're  better  than  a  thousand  dead  men  yet,"  he 
said  cheerily,  as  Broadrib,  having  carefully  sounded 
the  well,  reported  the  ship  fairly  dry.  "  The  storm  has 
blown  itself  out.  The  worst  has  happened  to  us.  We'll 
get  something  to  eat.  The  lad,  here,  to  whom  under 
God  the  salvation  of  the  ship  is  due,  I  take  it,  for  if  he 
hadn't  knocked  that  Indian  down  with  that  topblock, 
he  would  have  got  me,  and  the  rest  of  you  would  have 
been  out  there  with  the  other  whale-boat,  must  have 
something  hot.  Then  he  must  go  below  and  take  a 
long  sleep.  After  we  get  some  food,  we'll  consult 
together  what's  to  be  done  and  make  a  beginning  when 
we've  had  some  rest  and  got  freshened  up  a  bit.  Can 
any  of  you  cook?" 

"  I  can  make  shift  at  it,  I  guess,  sir,"  said  Rice. 

"Go  ahead,  then.  Go  down  into  the  cabin.  You 
will  find  our  stores  in  the  lazaret.  We'll  eat  the  best 
we've  got  on  the  ship,"  said  Mr.  Clough,  carefully 
assisting  Audrey  below  as  he  spoke. 

Poor  Rey  was  all  in.  The  bandages  that  the  mate 
had  put  on  her  shoulder  had  held,  however,  even  in  the 
involuntary  uses  to  which  she  had  put  her  arm.  In 
spite  of  her  overwhelming  exhaustion,  Clough  was 
confident,  that  after  a  good  rest  and  something  to  eat, 
the  girl  would  be  all  right.  After  she  had  enjoyed 
her  share  of  the  meal  Rice  soon  had  ready,  she 
tumbled  into  her  berth  and  knew  no  more  for  the  next 
twelve  hours.  She  had  always  been  a  good  sleeper, 


In  the  Grip  of  the  Storm  67 

but  she  had  never  slept  so  hard  and  so  restfully  in  all 
her  life  as  during  that  day.  The  mate  had  been  kind 
to  her.  He  had  praised  her.  He  was  a  good  man, 
and  true.  She  had  indeed  done  her  part.  She  was 
glad  now,  that  he  knew. 

And  after  doing  what  was  immediately  necessary  to 
the  ship  the  others  turned  in  also,  relieving  one  another 
at  the  wheel  until  all  were  rested  and  refreshed. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  MAKING  OF  A  BOY 

THERE  was,  of  course,  much  still  to  be  done  to  get 
the  ship  in  workable  trim  the  next  morning,  de 
spite  what  they  had  accomplished,  but  before  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  completion  of  that  formidable  task, 
Clough  interviewed  the  young  woman  whom  fate  had 
thrown  upon  his  hands.  He  was  not  repining  against 
his  fortunes  —  on  the  contrary!  The  more  he  thought 
of  the  situation,  the  better  he  liked  it,  and  the  greater 
his  prospective  enjoyment  and  satisfaction  became. 

Reflecting  that  the  girl  had  enjoyed  a  good,  long 
sleep  and  that  the  open  cut  in  her  shoulder  would  need 
looking  after  and  redressing,  however  delicate  the 
task,  and  realizing  that  she  could  by  no  means  compass 
it  herself,  he  made  up  his  mind  as  to  what  was  required 
of  him,  and  sometime  after  daybreak,  he  knocked  upon 
the  door  of  her  cabin. 

When  she  answered  his  call,  he  suggested  that  she 
get  up  at  once,  as  he  had  much  to  do  and  he  wished  to 
redress  her  wound  and  make  her  comfortable  for  the 
day,  before  he  essayed  the  harder  tasks. 

She  assented  instantly,  promising  to  be  ready  for  him 
in  a  few  moments.  Then  he  went  out  on  deck  again 
for  a  moment  and  was  pleased  to  find  every  promise  of 
fine,  fair  days  in  the  look  of  sky  and  sea.  The  men  were 

61 


The  Making  of  a  Boy  69 

already  astir  and  anxious  for  breakfast.  The  mate 
brought  out  some  cabin  stores,  which  he  gave  to  Rice, 
with  instructions  for  him  to  prepare  the  morning  meal 
at  once.  After  directing  Broadrib  and  Storey  to  make 
a  general  inspection  of  the  ship,  including  sounding  the 
well  again,  and  be  ready  to  report  to  him  later,  he 
reentered  the  cabin. 

Audrey  McRae  was  waiting  for  him.  She  was 
dressed  as  usual,  like  a  young  sailor  lad,  but  she  had 
folded  back  her  loose  shirt  so  as  to  bare  the  wounded 
shoulder.  She  faced  the  mate  bravely  and  he  devoted 
himself  to  his  somewhat  delicate  task  with  the  same 
courage.  Not  the  most  veteran  practitioner  of  medi 
cine  could  have  been  more  impersonally  professional 
in  his  treatment  than  the  young  sailor. 

Yet,  to  touch  the  white  and  dainty  skin  of  the  girl's 
shoulder  gave  him  a  thrill  which  he  had  never  imagined 
he  could  experience.  Indeed,  of  the  two,  he  was  by 
far  the  more  agitated.  Color  came  and  went  in  his 
cheeks  in  a  way  that  would  not  have  been  unbecoming 
in  the  girl  herself.  His  voice  and  his  hands  trembled 
not  a  little,  though  he  strove  valiantly  to  control  them 
both.  He  centered  his  gaze  upon  his  task,  scarcely 
daring  to  look  at  her  till  it  was  completed. 

She,  on  the  contrary,  took  advantage  of  his  confu 
sion,  to  study  him  as  openly,  as  deeply.  That  very 
nervousness  was  an  evidence  of  what  he  thought  of 
her,  a  tribute  to  the  feelings  evoked  by  his  realization 
of  her  sex  and  her  presence  aboard  the  ship.  And  she 
delighted  in  it.  As  a  boy,  she  had  not  seemed  especially 
precocious  in  seamanship  and  sea  lore  for  her  age; 


jo  Waif-o-the-Sea 


but  as  a  woman  she  was  far  in  advance  of  it,  apparently 
So  she  studied  him  intently  and  with  growing  pleasure 
during  the  whole  undertaking. 

The  fact  that  her  secret  was  discovered  and  con 
cealment  was  no  longer  either  possible  or  necessary, 
added  to  her  calmness  and  satisfaction.  Dressed  as  a 
boy,  considered  as  a  boy,  treated  as  a  boy,  she  had 
hitherto  in  some  measure  at  least  thought  as  a  boy 
and  acted  as  one.  Now  that  the  mate  knew  she  was  a 
woman,  a  change,  subtle  but  perceptible,  had  come 
over  her.  Clothes  did  not  make  the  difference  they 
once  had  done.  She  now  thought  as  a  woman;  not  so 
much  so  as  she  would  later,  but  still  with  an  already 
marked  difference.  Her  anomalous  relation  to  the  mate 
suddenly  became  definite.  She  realized  that  fully, 
though  he  as  yet  did  not  completely  apprehend  it. 
To  him  she  was  still  half  boy,  to  herself  she  was  alto 
gether  woman;  and  what  was  more  decisive,  he  was 
no  longer  half  friend,  instructor,  superior,  companion. 
He  was  altogether  man,  who  was  to  be  —  what? 

For  the  rest  she  held  her  garment  drawn  tightly 
across  her  breast  and  submitted  quietly  to  his  minis 
trations,  until  he  had  completed  the  dressing.  The 
wound  was  healing  rapidly,  no  inflammation  had  set 
in,  and  in  a  few  days  she  would  be  completely  well. 
The  mate's  treatment  had  been  simple,  but  good.  She 
found  time  to  wonder  a  little  at  the  exceeding  gentle 
ness  and  delicacy  with  which  the  rough-handed  seaman 
handled  her  still  tender  shoulder,  as  well  as  at  his  skill 
with  the  bandaging. 

Finally  he  heaved  a  long  sigh  —  compounded  of  re- 


The  Making  of  a  Boy  71 

lief  and  regret — and  declared  that  he  could  do  no 
more.  And  for  that,  in  spite  of  his  nervousness,  he 
was  very  sorry.  He  helped  her  on  with  her  light  pea- 
jacket,  lest  she  might  take  cold  in  the  wound,  and  waited 
until  she  had  buttoned  her  shirt  at  the  neck.  She  picked 
up  her  black  silk  neckerchief  thereafter  and  handed  it 
to  him.  He  tied  it  for  her  with  extra  care,  lingering 
as  much  as  he  dared  over  the  duty  she  had  devolved 
upon  him.  He  wanted  to  kiss  the  face,  upturned 
toward  him  so  fascinatingly,  but  he  did  not  dare. 

The  day  before  he  would  unceremoniously  have  set 
the  boy  at  any  seaman's  task  suited  to  his  years  and 
strength,  but  now  he  felt  that  he  could  not  have  issued 
an  order  to  the  girl  to  save  his  life.  Things  were  dif 
ferent.  There  had  been  a  reversal  of  their  relative 
situations.  The  big,  powerful  sailor  was  quite  pre 
pared  to  take  the  orders  he  could  not  give.  Yet,  to 
all  outward  intents  and  purposes,  Rey  looked  exactly 
as  she  had  looked  throughout  the  cruise  —  a  handsome, 
slender,  slightly  undersized  boy,  smiling  at  him  with 
her  bright  blue  eyes.  She  was  dressed  like  any  and 
every  other  sailor  lad,  and,  but  for  her  unusual  good 
looks,  appeared  to  be. what  she  purported  to  be  —  a 
saucy  boy!  Yet,  the  loose,  flowing  white  trousers,  the 
short  blue  jacket,  the  laced  cap  covering  her  short, 
unmanageable  golden  curls,  the  flowing  tie,  her  coquet 
tish  air  spoke  woman  —  nay,  cried  it  aloud.  The  mate 
wondered  how  he  could  have  been  so  blind.  And  now 
many  things  that  had  puzzled  him,  were  plain. 

He  had  yet  to  hear  her  story.  She  was  willing  to 
tell  it,  indeed,  anxious  to  do  so;  to  set  herself  right 


72  Watf-o-the-Sea 


with  this  man.  And  during  the  pauses  for  rest  in  the 
arduous  days  that  followed,  she  related  it,  bit  by  bit, 
until  he  knew  it  all. 

For  the  present  he  decided,  finding  her  cheerfully 
acquiescent  in  any  of  his  decisions,  that  nothing  was 
to  be  said  to  the  men  aboard.  At  the  proper  time  they 
must  be  told,  but  until  that  time  came,  it  would  be  better 
to  say  nothing.  And  thus  her  story  ran: 

Captain  Norris,  instead  of  being  alone  in  the  world, 
as  everybody  aboard  ship  at  least  had  believed,  had 
been  blessed  with  a  young  and  charming  sister.  The 
captain,  as  was  not  unusual  with  shipmasters,  men 
whose  lightest  word  was  law  in  their  ships,  had  been 
conjugated  in  the  imperative  mood.  His  sister,  Audrey 
Norris,  shared  his  imperialism.  There  had  been  fre 
quent  clashes  of  will  between  them,  culminating,  ac 
cording  to  the  story  Audrey  McRae  told  Mr.  Clough, 
in  an  open  rupture  between  the  brother  and  sister  over 
the  latter's  marriage. 

The  lucky  man  was  not  the  one  selected  by  her 
brother  as  a  suitable  husband  for  the  lovely  but  self- 
willed  girl.  She  had  taken  advantage  of  the  captain's 
absence  on  a  voyage  to  China,  to  marry  the  man  of 
her  choice. 

When  Captain  Norris  returned  and  learned  what 
she  had  done,  he  had  refused  to  see  his  sister.  He  even 
declined  to  read  her  letters.  The  break  between  them 
was  final  and  not  to  be  bridged  over  by  any  effort  on 
the  sister's  part.  Audrey  McRae  went  her  way  and 
Captain  Norris  his,  each  believing  the  separation  was 
forever. 


The  Making  of  a  Boy  73 

Fate,  however,  ordered  things  otherwise.  On  re 
turning  from  his  last  whaling  cruise  in  the  Pacific, 
Captain  Norris  found  awaiting  him  a  letter  from  a 
firm  of  attorneys  with  whose  names  he  was  unfamiliar. 
The  ship's  agent  who  delivered  it,  told  him  that  it  had 
arrived  only  the  day  before. 

Captain  Norris  opened  it  unsuspiciously  and  was 
shocked  to  find  that  it  announced,  in  precise  legal  ver 
biage,  the  death  of  his  sister.  It  appeared  that  she 
had  been  for  some  years  a  widow  and  had  been  left 
in  very  reduced  circumstances  after  the  death  of  her 
husband.  She  had,  however,  left  a  legacy  to  the  cap 
tain.  A  letter  to  him  from  her,  which  the  lawyers 
begged  leave  to  enclose,  would  put  the  captain  in  full 
possession  of  all  the  facts. 

It  was  with  mingled  feelings,  indeed,  that  Captain 
Norris  opened  the  last  letter  from  his  sister,  with  whom 
he  had  held  no  communications  for  so  many  years. 

Audrey  had  the  letter  in  her  possession,  she  had 
read  it  many  times.  She  fetched  it  from  her  ditty  box 
and  let  the  mate  read  it  for  himself.  It  was  short,  but 
pregnant  with  meaning  and  with  a  pathetic  appeal  which 
would  have  softened  a  heart  of  stone.  And  for  all  his 
hardness,  Captain  Norris  was  touched  by  it. 

With  faltering  hand  and  in  broken  words,  his  sister 
told  him  that  things  had  gone  ill  with  her  since  her 
husband's  death.  She  touched  briefly  upon  her  strug 
gles  and  sufferings.  Being  warned  by  her  medical 
attendant,  that  her  days  were  numbered,  she  accepted 
the  situation  with  the  courage  of  the  Norris  family; 
without  repining,  she  addressed  herself  to  the  principal 


74  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


matter  in  hand.  She  begged  the  captain,  whose  for 
giveness  and  love  she  had  long  craved  in  vain,  to  think 
kindly  of  her  in  his  heart  after  she  had  gone.  And,  as 
evidence  of  his  willingness  to  cherish  her  memory,  she 
solemnly  enjoined  him  to  charge  himself  with  the  care 
of  her  only  child,  Rey,  who  would  be  left  otherwise, 
entirely  unprovided  for. 

The  writing  grew  fainter,  the  words  more  broken, 
obviously,  the  pauses  between  sentences  and  phrases 
had  lengthened.  The  strength  had  gone  out  of  the 
poor  woman.  She  could  write  no  more.  She  had  just 
managed  to  scrawl  her  name  beneath  this  heartfelt 
appeal. 

Captain  Norris  acted  promptly.  The  next  day  found 
him  in  the  little  Long  Island  town  where  his  sister 
had  died.  He  had  been  too  late  for  the  funeral. 
He  had  gone  direct  to  the  mean  little  house  at  which 
the  letter  had  been  written  and  had  knocked  on  the 
door. 

Audrey  herself,  then  a  young  girl  just  past  seven 
teen,  had  answered  his  summons.  She  told  Clough  how 
the  weather-beaten  old  sea  captain  had  stared  at  her  as 
if  he  had  seen  a  ghost — from  her  indisputable  likeness 
to  her  mother,  doubtless !  She  showed  Clough  her 
mother's  miniature  in  confirmation  of  that. 

Captain  Norris  asked  her  if  she  could  tell  him  of 
the  whereabouts  of  a  young  lad  of  about  her  age,  who 
answered  to  the  name  of  Rey  McRae. 

"I  am  Rey  McRae,"  she  had  replied,  simply  and 
directly. 

"But  you   are   a   girl!"   exclaimed  the  astonished 


The  Making  of  a  Boy  75 

captain,  starting  back  in  amazement,  almost  as  if  he 
would  fain  refuse  to  credit  the  obvious. 

"  Most  certainly.  And  why,  may  I  ask,  did  you 
think  otherwise?"  had  been  her  answer. 

"Your  mother's  letter — "  he  began,  holding  it  out. 

She  recognized  it  at  once.  Indeed,  she  had  assisted 
and  supported  her  mother  when  she  had  written  it. 
She  was  familiar  with  the  contents. 

"  She  would  have  written  more  clearly,  but  her 
strength  failed — "  said  the  girl,  choking  back  a  sob. 

The  explanation  was  adequate.  The  captain  stared 
at  her  in  growing  anxiety,  which  found  words  at  last. 

"  What  on  earth  am  I  to  do  with  you,  a  girl !  "  he 
exclaimed. 

"You  are  my  mother's  brother?  My  uncle?"  she 
had  asked. 

"I  am." 

"  She  left  me  to  your  care?  " 

"She  did." 

"Do  you  forgive  my  mother?  Are  you  sorry  you 
left  her  to  die  alone?"  she  demanded,  with  a  certain 
passionate  intensity,  otherwise  she  would  have  none  of 
his  aid  or  care. 

The  captain  had  grown  older.  He  had  been  much 
alone,  after  the  necessary  habit  of  shipmasters.  He 
had  thought  deeply  of  late  upon  the  broken  relations 
between  himself  and  his  sister,  his  only  relative,  and 
he  had  come  to  a  certain  conclusion  on  the  voyage  which 
had  just  ended. 

"  Deeply  do  I  regret  our  differences,  my  child,"  he 
began.  "  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  seek  your  mother 


76  Waif-o-the-Sea 


on  my  return  from  this  present  cruise  and  ask  her  for 
giveness.  This  letter  told  me  it  was  too  late,"  he  con 
cluded  sadly. 

Hard,  stern,  unyielding,  imperious,  Captain  Norris 
might  be,  no  one  would  hesitate  to  accept  his  lightest 
assurance.  The  girl  found  his  words  to  ring  so  true, 
that  she  came  nearer  to  him,  laid  her  hand  upon  his 
arm  in  youthful  and  innocent  trust  and  looked  up  at  him. 

"  It  would  have  made  my  mother  so  happy  to  have 
known  that,"  she  said  simply,  and  then,  after  a  pause 
she  added,  "and  perhaps  she  knows  now." 

"  I  hope  so,"  was  the  captain's  reply.  "  And  I  mean 
to  make  what  reparation  I  can,  by  fulfilling  her  last 
request  and  looking  after  you." 

Captain  Norris  was  an  undemonstrative  man,  not 
used  to  the  society  of  girls  or  women.  Yet,  he  put  his 
arm  around  her  waist,  awkwardly,  to  be  sure  and  then 
he  bent  and  kissed  her  head,  with  unwonted  tenderness, 
while  she  sobbed  her  grief  away  on  his  broad  breast. 
Presently  she  dried  her  tears  and  looked  up  at  him. 

''You  find  it  difficult  to  know  what  to  do  with  me 
because  I  am  a  girl?"  she  began. 

"  Yes,  it  does  make  it  a  bit  awkward,  but  we'll  find 
some  way  to  care  for  you  when  I  am  at  sea." 

"  How  long  are  you  gone  ?  " 

"  Two  or  three  years  on  a  whaling  cruise,  sometimes 
longer." 

"Take  me  with  you,"  she  pleaded.  "I  am  a  good 
sailor,  never  ill.  I  can  handle  a  boat.  I  can " 

"A  girl,  a  woman  aboard  ship.  A  female  alone 
with  a  lot  of " 


The  Making  of  a  Boy  77 

"  But  I  could  go  as  a  boy,"  she  persisted.  "  I've 
often  gone  cruising  with  my  father.  He  freighted 
on  the  Sound  and  then  I  always  wore  a  boy's  clothes. 
That's  the  reason  my  hair  is  cut  short.  Wait " 

She  ran  away,  leaving  the  captain  almost  in  a  daze, 
which  was  by  no  means  cleared  up  when  she  presented 
herself  to  him  in  the  clothes  she  had  afterward  worn 
for  over  a  year  in  the  whaler. 

A  smile  came  across  his  grim  features  at  the  met 
amorphosis.  She  looked  a  veritable  boy  indeed,  though 
added  years  would  naturally  make  the  disguise  more 
difficult  to  sustain. 

"  I  don't  want  to  lose  you,  my  only  relative  in  the 
world,  now  that  I've  just  found  you,"  she  declared. 

"And  you,  don't  you  want  me  a  little  —  Uncle?" 

Yes,  he  suddenly  discovered  that  he  wanted  her  very 
much.  And  that  was  the  way  Rey  found  herself  signed 
to  the  whaler's  articles  as  ship's  boy;  and,  as  an  especial 
protege  of  the  captain,  with  a  berth  aft  in  the  cabin. 

Mr.  Clough  found  it  a  marvelous  story  indeed.  He 
was  very  fond  of  hearing  it.  He  never  exhausted  its 
details.  He  had  her  tell  it  to  him,  over  and  over  again 
in  the  long  watches  they  stood  together  in  the  days  that 
followed.  He  was  eager  for  every  detail  of  that  past 
life  of  the  woman  so  strangely  committed  to  him. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

AWAY  FOR  VALPARAISO 

AFTER  two  days  of  the  hardest  work,  that  any 
of  the  four  men  had  ever  put  in  —  which  is  say 
ing  a  good  deal,  for  they  were  all  seamen,  accustomed 
to  arduous  toil  —  they  at  last  got  the  Sharon  into  some 
sort  of  shape,  with  which  they  had  perforce  to  be 
satisfied.  They  cut  away  all  the  wreckage,  spliced 
the  parted  standing  rigging,  rerove  the  running  gear, 
and  out  of  a  spare  lower  studding  sail  boom,  had  man 
aged  to  rig  a  jury,  or  temporary,  main  topmast.  They 
had  used  the  flying  jib  boom  for  a  jury  main  topsail 
yard.  With  plenty  of  spare  sails  in  the  sail  room  — 
for  the  Sharon  was  well  provided  and  had  lost  few 
heretofore  —  they  bent  new  courses,  new  spanker  and 
jib,  and  used  a  main  topgallant  sail  for  a  new  main 
topsail. 

Of  course,  this  was  a  very  small  spread  of  canvas 
for  so  big  a  ship,  but  it  was  sufficient  to  send  her  along 
at  a  fairly  good  rate,  heavily  laden  as  she  was.  It  also 
enabled  them  to  control  her  motion,  even  to  lay  a  course 
by  the  wind  if  they  so  desired  and  it  became  necessary, 
and  it  was  about  as  much  canvas  as  they  could  by  any 
possibility  have  handled  —  indeed  more,  unless  they 
had  plenty  of  time  for  work  at  the  braces. 

She  was  a  queer-looking  ship  when  they  got  through 

78 


Away  for  Valparaiso  79 

with  her,  with  patched-up  makeshift  braces,  stays  and 
running  and  standing  rigging,  but  to  a  sailor's  eye,  it 
all  showed  skill,  resourcefulness,  and  determination. 
A  good  deal  of  the  heavy  work  had  been  done  the  first 
day,  while  Audrey  rested,  by  Clough's  strict  orders. 
As  one  man  had  to  be  constantly  at  the  wheel,  her 
absence  was  a  great  deprivation  to  them,  but  Clough 
would  not  hear  of  her  doing  anything,  despite  all  her 
pleading.  The  mate  said  rightly  that  the  safety 
of  the  ship,  and  their  being  on  her,  was  due  to 
Rey,  for  if  she  had  not  made  that  lucky  throw  of  the 
block  from  the  main  top,  he  would  have  been  killed, 
and  the  others  would  never  have  been  able  to  board 
her.  What  their  fate  would  have  been  in  an  open  boat, 
in  that  wild  white  squall,  they  had  only  to  look  back  to 
the  picture  of  the  other  whale-boat,  capsized,  its  crew 
struggling  vainly  in  the  vast  seas,  fully  to  comprehend. 

None  of  the  others,  indeed,  wished  to  disturb  the 
boy.  Old  Broadrib,  who  was  as  big  as  his  name,  sup 
plemented  his  undoubted  skill  by  a  giant's  strength. 
Rice  and  Storey  made  up  in  zeal  for  their  lack  of  a 
similar  physique,  and  Mr.  Clough,  with  the  intuitive 
knowledge  and  resourcefulness  of  a  born  seaman,  was 
more  than  equal  in  value  to  Broadrib. 

Thereafter  they  got  along  faster;  for  one  reason, 
they  had  enjoyed  a  good  sleep  during  the  night  in  their 
watch  or  watches  below,  and  for  another,  Rey  was 
feeling  so  much  better  that  she  insisted  on  taking  the 
wheel.  Her  wounded  shoulder  still  prevented  her 
from  doing  any  hard  work,  to  which,  indeed,  she  would 
have  been  unequal,  but  in  the  light  breeze  prevailing, 


80  Waif-o-the-Sea 


for  both  wind  and  sea  had  fortunately  died  down  — 
the  wind  almost  as  quickly  as  it  had  risen,  and  the  sea, 
after  a  day  —  she  could,  without  difficulty,  manage  to 
control  the  ship's  course,  especially  as  the  Sharon  was 
under  such  short  canvas  and  steered  easily  always. 

The  evening  of  the  second  day  found  them  with 
every  conceivable  task  completed.  Where  the  fore 
and  main  topmasts  had  gone  overboard,  a  great  hole 
had  been  broken  in  the  bulwarks.  They  had  even 
mended  that,  Clough  having  some  skill  with  the  car 
penter's  tools.  They  were  well  pleased  with  their  work. 
Indeed,  they  had  got  along  so  much  better  than  they 
had  expected,  that  they  were  fairly  overjoyed. 

No  attempt  had  been  made  to  settle  on  any  future 
course  in  view  of  the  pressing  nature  of  present  de 
mands,  and  after  supper  —  a  much  better  supper  than 
the  seamen  were  accustomed  to,  for  Rice  with  Clough's 
permission  had  continued  to  prepare  their  meals  from 
the  abundant  cabin  stores  —  they  all  came  aft  for  a 
smoke  and  sat  down  around  the  wheel  to  talk  over  the 
situation. 

Naturally,  Mr.  Clough,  being  the  only  remaining 
officer,  took  the  lead.  Under  ordinary  conditions  no 
officer  would  have  summoned  a  ship's  crew  into  counsel 
as  to  what  to  do  and  where  to  go,  but  the  circumstances 
were  extraordinary.  While  it  would  be  possible  for  the 
four  men  and  Rey  to  work  the  big  ship  into  harbor 
if  nothing  happened,  it  would  be  a  tremendous  task 
which  would  call  upon  every  ounce  of  their  strength, 
all  possible  skill  and  unbounded  devotion,  and  which 
would  be  difficult  if  not  impossible  in  case  of  any  mis- 


Away  for  Valparaiso  81 

hap  or  misfortune.  For  instance,  they  could  scarcely 
get  the  sails  off  the  ship  again,  and  a  hard  gale  would 
render  their  position  most  precarious. 

A  brand  new  ship  when  she  cleared  from  New  Bed 
ford,  the  Sharon  had  stood  up  under  the  strains  and 
stresses  and  batterings  of  wind  and  seas  remarkably 
well.  They  sounded  the  well  every  hour  and  discov 
ered  nothing  but  the  natural  seepage;  bilge  water  being 
always  to  be  met  with  in  a  wooden  ship.  They  were 
greatly  relieved  to  find  she  was  tight  and  without  a 
leak.  If  they  could  bring  her  into  port  she  would  be 
worth  thousands  of  dollars  to  each  one  of  them. 
Clough  was  not  quite  clear  as  to  what  the  marine  law 
of  salvage  was  or  even  how  far  the  action  of  the  two 
mates  and  those  of  the  crew  who  had  refused  to  attempt 
to  recapture  the  ship  would  effect  their  share  of  the 
"lay,"  but  he  was  pretty  sure  that  they  had  forfeited 
it.  The  rewards,  therefore,  would  be  great  if  they 
could  bring  the  ship  home,  and  the  honor  would  be 
even  greater. 

The  firm  that  owned  the  Sharon  was  liberal  and 
progressive.  Mr.  Clough  was  certain  that  if  he  saved 
her  he  could  get  a  ship  of  his  own  for  the  next  cruise 
and  he  was  fully  qualified  for  so  important  a  command. 
Circumstances  had  suddenly  made  that  more  desirable 
than  ever.  In  his  secret  heart  the  young  man  was  begin 
ning  to  plan  for  two ! 

It  would  advance  Audrey's  fortunes  too,  for  as  she 
was  undoubtedly  Captain  Norris'  only  heir,  her  share 
of  the  value  of  the  ship  and  cargo,  to  say  nothing  of 
a  possible  salvage  claim,  would  be  very  considerable. 


82  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Clough  felt  bound  to  obtain  as  much  for  her  as  he  could. 

"  Mates,"  said  the  young  officer,  "you  have  all  stood 
by  me  and  the  Sharon  loyally.  You  have  shown  your 
selves  men  of  courage  and  grit  and  fine  seamen,  willing 
to  work,  and  that  I  appreciate,  and  that  the  owners 
of  the  ship,  if  we  can  bring  her  in,  are  certain  to 
appreciate  also.  If  it  hadn't  been  for  you,  Rey,  we 
couldn't  have  got  the  ship,  and  if  Broadrib  and  Rice 
and  Storey  hadn't  boarded  her  just  when  they  did,  I 
guess  even  your  courage  and  resourcefulness,  my  — 
my  boy,  wouldn't  have  staved  off  the  end.  As  third 
officer  of  the  ship,  of  course,  I  am  now  in  command, 
the  captain  and  the  two  mates  being  lost,  and  I  should 
have  a  perfect  right  to  decide  on  our  future  course 
without  consulting  you  or  anybody,  in  which  event  I 
know  that  you  would  give  me  loyal  support  and  obe 
dience.  But  the  circumstances  are  peculiar.  I  want 
your  counsel  and  advice.  You  know  perfectly  well 
that  this  ship  is  loaded  to  her  capacity  with  sperm, 
ambergris  and  whale  bone  and  that  her  cargo  is  worth 
thousands  of  dollars.  She  doesn't  look  very  pretty 
now,"  he  continued,  removing  his  pipe  and  glancing 
aloft  at  the  shattered  masts  and  at  the  makeshift  main 
topmast,  "but  as  a  ship  she  is  worth  a  hundred  wrecks. 
I  am  not  sure  about  the  law,  but  I  think  we  will  all 
be  entitled  to  salvage,  if  we  bring  her  in,  and  our  "  lay  " 
will  be  enormous.  For  the  men  who  deserted  her  will 
have  lost  their  shares.  She  ought  to  give  each  one  of 
us  a  fair  start  toward  a  fortune  if  we  can  ever  get  her 
back  to  old  New  Bedford  town." 

"You're  right  there,  Mr.  Clough,"  said  old  Broad- 


Away  for  Valparaiso  83 

rib.  "An'  we're  wishful  an'  anxious  to  do  everythin' 
we  kin  to  sail  her  back.  In  course,  we'll  obey  your 
orders  without  questions,  carry  out  your  directions  to 
the  best  of  our  ability.  Am  I  right,  mates?" 

"  Right  you  are,"  said  Rice  heartily. 

"  I  agree  with  that,"  added  Storey. 

"  Well,  then,  the  first  thing  to  be  done  is  to  choose 
and  set  the  watches.  I'll  appoint  Broadrib,  here,  mate. 
I  am  captain.  I'll  take  the  starboard  watch,  and  you, 
Broadrib,  the  port  watch.  The  four  of  us  will  be  on 
deck  all  the  time  during  the  day,  but  we'll  keep  regular 
watches  at  night." 

"How  about  me,  sir,"  piped  up  Audrey  demurely. 

"Well,  Rey,"  said  Clough,  smiling  at  her  eager 
ness,  "you  can  be  on  deck  all  the  day  with  the  rest  of 
us,  but  at  night  you'll  turn  in,  at  least  until  that  shoulder 
of  yours  gets  completely  well  anyway,  or  unless  we 
need  you  on  account  of  some  emergency." 

"  I'd  like  to  be  in  a  regular  watch  and  do  my  regular 
turn,  sir,"  protested  the  girl,  whose  spirit  was  high, 
indeed. 

But  Captain  Clough  shook  his  head. 

"  You  won't  be  forgot  or  overlooked,"  he  answered. 
"It  was  your  readiness  that  saved  my  life.  If  that 
brute  had  got  down  into  that  cabin  it  would  have  been 
the  end  of  me.  And  I  shan't  forget  your  pluck  and 
seamanship  in  fetching  that  ensign  from  the  spanker 
gaff  and  bending  it  on  to  the  main  royal  masthead. 
We  saw  the  main  to'gall'nt  s'l  on  the  crosstrees,  but 
that  didn't  worry  us  much,  although  we  did  take  it  as 
some  sort  of  a  signal.  But  when  the  flag  went  up, 


84  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Union  down,  we  knew  there  was  trouble.  Now,  Broad- 
rib,  take  your  choice  of  the  men  for  your  watch." 

"  Rice  and  Storey  is  both  good  men,"  said  old  Broad- 
rib,  looking  at  them  reflectively.  "  I  can't  choose  be 
tween  'em.  I'd  jest  as  leave  have  one  as  t'other,  an' 
I  wouldn't  want  to  hurt  the  feelin's  of  one  man  by 
takin'  the  other." 

"Here,"  said  Clough,  taking  a  coin  from  his  pocket. 
"Heads  you  get  Rice;  tails  you  get  Storey." 

He  spun  the  coin  in  the  air,  caught  it  and  exhibited  it. 

"Tails  it  is." 

"Storey,  you're  in  my  watch,"  said  the  old  har- 
pooner. 

"  Rice,  you're  in  mine,"  chimed  in  the  new  captain. 

"  First  time  I  ever  got  put  in  a  watch  by  spinnin'  a 
coin,"  laughed  Rice. 

"Well,  that  matter's  settled  then,"  said  Clough. 
"The  next  thing  is  what  our  course  will  be.  What  do 
you  think  about  it?" 

"Well,  I  takes  it,"  answered  old  Broadrib  after  a 
moment  of  reflection,  "  that  the  best  thing  \ve  can  dp 
is  to  make  the  South  American  coast  somewheres  an' 
perhaps  ship  a  hand  or  two  to  help  us  work  the  old 
hooker  'round  the  Horn  an'  back  to  New  Bedford 
again." 

"Aye,  you're  right  there,"  returned  Clough. 

"But  what  part  of  the  South  American  coast,  sir?" 
asked  Rice. 

"Why,  I  takes  it,  the  farther  south  we  goes,  the 
better,"  answered  Broadrib. 

"You  mean "  asked  Storey. 


Away  for  Valparaiso  85 

"Valparaiso,"  said  Clough,  who  evidently  agreed 
with  the  harpooner. 

"Right-o,"  said  Broadrib.  "You  can't  go  farther 
south  than  Valparaiso.  There  ain't  no  harbor,  nor  no 
chance  of  pickin'  up  anybody  any  place  else." 

"We  might  fetch  away  for  Callao,  Peru,  sir.  I 
believe  it  would  be  shorter,  wouldn't  it?"  asked  Rice. 

"Yes,"  answered  Clough,  "it  certainly  would  be 
shorter,  but  we  would  have  to  beat  up  a  large  part 
of  the  way,  and  while  we  can  sail  by  the  wind  if  we 
have  to,  even  under  our  present  rig,  it  would  be  mighty 
slow  progress  we  would  make  and " 

"  Besides  which,"  said  Broadrib,  "  Callao  is  still  a 
Spanish  port  unless  them  Chileans  an'  Peruvians  have 
drove  'em  out  sence  we  left  New  Bedford,  which  ain't 
likely." 

"  I  think  not,"  said  Clough. 

"  Them  Spaniards  ain't  any  too  well  affected  toward 
the  United  States.  They  think  it's  your  example  that 
has  set  these  South  Americans  off,"  continued  the  big 
Englishman. 

"  While  at  Valparaiso,"  continued  Clough,  "  we  are 
sure  of  getting  friendly  treatment.  Besides  following 
that  course,  we'll  catch  the  northeast  trade  winds  pres 
ently  and  that  ought  to  send  us  along  at  a  great  rate." 

"There's  some  speed  in  the  old  bucket  yet,"  said 
Storey.  He  rose,  stepped  over  to  the  rail  and  looked 
critically  down  at  the  water.  "  I  should  say  she  was 
making  all  of  five  knots  now  in  this  light  breeze." 

"Yes,  and  she'll  do  better  than  that  if  the  wind 
comes  stronger,  which  I  hopes  it  will,"  said  Broadrib. 


86  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"  Don't  hope  it  will  come  very  much  stronger,"  said 
Clough,  u  for  if  it  blew  too  hard,  we  would  be  up 
against  it,  certain.  Well,  then,  Valparaiso  it  is.  I 
thought  of  that  myself,  but  I  am  glad  you  three  arrived 
at  the  same  conclusion.  In  fact,  I  worked  out  the 
course  when  I  took  a  shot  at  the  sun  this  noon  and  — 
well,  Valparaiso  is  right  over  our  bowsprit  now." 

"About  how  many  leagues  away  do  you  make  it, 
Cap'n  Clough?" 

"About  eighteen  hundred,"  answered  Clough 
promptly.  "  I  measured  it  off  on  the  chart,  and  that 
is  about  what  it  shows." 

"And  say  we  average  about  five  knots  and  a  half 
an  hour.  How  long  do  you  think  it  will  take  us  to  get 
there?" 

"  Well,  five  and  a  half  knots  an  hour,  which  I  think 
is  rather  high,  is  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  miles,  or 
forty-four  leagues  a  day,  and  that  divided  into  eighteen 
hundred  is  about  forty  days.  Add  a  week  or  so  for 
leeway  and  head  winds,  or  calms;  say  eight  weeks. 

"That'll  be  about  it,"  said  Broadrib,  who  was 
entirely  unable  to  follow  the  mate's  mental  figuring, 
but  who  was  greatly  impressed  by  it. 

"Have  we  food  and  water  enough,  sir?"  asked 
Storey. 

"Plenty,"  said  Clough.  "We  are  provisioned  for 
thirty  men  and  we  only  have  four  men  and  a — a — 
boy  to  provide  for." 

'You  kin  count  that  boy  a  man  when  it  comes  to 
stowin'  away  his  share  of  the  grub,"  observed  Broadrib. 

"Yes,    I    expect    so,"    laughed    Clough    at    Key's 


Away  for  Valparaiso  87 

indignant  look,  Broadrib  speaking  not  from  any  obser 
vation,  but  theoretically  and  without  authority. 

"  Which  I've  stopped  my  growth  for  some  time," 
answered  the  harpooner,  "but  I  find  it  is  good  for  me, 
too.  An'  good  for  the  rest  of  us,  hey,  mates?" 

"You  bet  it  is,"  said  Storey.  "It'll  be  pretty  hard 
to  go  back  to  ship's  fare  after  eating  cabin  fare." 

"  I  guess  the  cabin's  stores  will  last  us  all  right," 
said  Captain  Clough.  "  You  see  there  were  four  officers 
of  us  aft  and  Rey,  and  there  are  no  more  on  the  ship 
now.  Do  any  of  you  know  anybody  in  Valparaiso? 
I  wish  we  had  stopped  there  when  we  came  up,  but 
Captain  Norris  was  so  anxious  to  get  his  irons  into 
the  big  fish  that  he  passed  it  by." 

"  I  know  one  man  there.  Leastways,  he  was  there 
when  I  left  England,  an'  I  come  straight  to  the  States 
from  Hull  in  a  packet." 

"How  did  you  happen  to  get  on  the  Sharon,  you 
being  a  Britisher,  Broadrib?"  asked  Clough. 

"Well,  sir,  Captain  Howes  Norris'  grandmother 
was  an  English  woman.  She  lived  in  Hull.  I  had 
met  up  with  him  once  when  he  was  visitin'  her  as  a 
youngster.  He  kind  a  took  to  me,  an'  he  told  me  if 
I  ever  wanted  a  ship  an'  he  had  one  I  could  get  a  berth 
with  him.  So  when  I  landed  in  the  United  States  I 
drifted  up  to  New  Bedford  an',  as  luck  would  have  it, 
found  Captain  Norris  then  ready  to  sail  with  the 
Sharon,  an'  signed  on.  He  was  glad  enough  to  have 
me,  sence  I  had  been  in  these  waters  afore.  In  fact,  I 
once  made  a  cruise  on  a  whaler  called  the  Seringap- 
atam." 


Waif-o-the-Sea 


"  Why,  by  George  1 "  exclaimed  Clough,  "  I  remem 
ber  that  whaler.  We  captured  her  when  I  was  a 
midshipman  in  the  navy  on  the  Essex,  on  Commo 
dore  Porter's  famous  cruise." 

"You  sartin  did  that,"  said  old  Broadrib.  "But  I 
never  knowed  you'd  been  on  the  Essex,  sir." 

;'Yes,  but  I  didn't  happen  to  be  one  of  the  prize 
crew  of  the  Seringapatam,  else  we  would  have  met  each 
other.  I  was  on  the  Essex,  Junior,  afterward,  but  I 
was  on  the  frigate  herself  when  she  was  attacked  by 
the  Phoebe  and  the  Cherub" 

"I  was  ashore,  a  prisoner  on  parole,  but  I  seed  it 
all.  It  certainly  was  a  great  fight,"  said  Broadrib. 

''  Yes,  your  ships  caught  us  at  a  disadvantage.  They 
were  a  heavy  overmatch  to  us,  but,  though  we  were 
beaten,  we  were  not  disgraced." 

"That  you  weren't,"  said  the  harpooner,  "an'  I 
admits  the  disadvantage.  But  you  see  Cap'n  Hillyar 
was  sent  out  to  git  you,  an'  git  you  he  did.  You'd 
played  hob  with  our  whalin'  interests  in  the  South  Seas, 
an'  sence  the  war  ended  your  ships  has  been  crowdin' 
ourn  mighty  hard  in  huntin'  the  big  fish,"  continued 
the  Englishman,  giving  the  common  sailor  name  to  the 
whale,  which,  of  course,  is  not  a  fish  at  all. 

"Well,  we  won't  bear  any  malice  on  that  account," 
said  Clough.  "  Our  countries  are  at  peace  now,  and 
I  hope  they  will  always  remain  so." 

"That's  me,  too,"  said  the  big  Englishman. 
'You  were  saying  that  you  knew  someone  in  Valpa 
raiso,  Mr.  Broadrib,"  began  Key,  who  had  listened 
with  deep  interest. 


Away  for  Valparaiso 


"Mister  Broadrib ! "  laughed  the  seaman. 

"Yes,  certainly,"  answered  the  other.  "Aren't  you 
the  second  officer  of  the  ship  now?" 

"  Lord  love  you,  lad,  I'm  jest  plain  old  Bill  Broadrib, 
same's  I  was  afore.  Don't  go  to  misterin'  me.  There 
ain't  no  misters  on  this  ship  'cept  Mr.  Clough,  Cap'n 
Clough,  if  you  please,  youngster,"  said  old  Broadrib. 

"Who  is  it  that  you  know  in  Valparaiso?  Anybody 
of  importance?"  asked  Clough,  smiling  at  the  turn  of 
the  conversation. 

"  Well,  I  should  say  he  is  of  importance,"  said  the 
sailor. 

"And  how  do  you  happen  to  know  him?"  asked 
the  mate,  or  the  captain,  rather,  to  give  him  his  new 
and  undoubted  rank,  wondering  that  a  plain  seaman 
like  Broadrib  should  know  anyone  of  importance. 

"I  fought  under  him  for  four  years;  that  is  to  say, 
I  was  bo's'n's  mate  on  a  brig  he  commanded,  an'  when 
he  went  from  one  vessel  to  another,  he  thought  enough 
of  me  to  take  me  with  him.  I'd  have  been  with  him 
yet  if  he  hadn't  been  kicked  out  of  the  British  Navy." 

"You  mean " 

"  I  mean  Lord  Cochrane,  the  Earl  of  Dundonald." * 

1  Thomas,  Lord  Cochrane,  tenth  Earl  of  Dundonald  (b.  1775-  d. 
1860),  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  and  successful  sea  officers  of  the 
English  Navy,  or  of  any  other  navy.  His  wonderful  exploits  and  in 
ventions  were  so  many  and  so  varied  as  to  give  him  a  unique  place  in 
naval  history.  Unfortunately,  h,e  mingled  in  politics,  was  elected  to 
parliament,  became  involved  in  conflicts  with  the  party  in  power, 
charged  his  commanding  officer,  Admiral  Lord  Gambier,  with  neg 
ligence  and  cowardice,  became  involved  in  financial  difficulties  through 
speculation,  was  made  a  scapegoat  by  political  enemies  and  was  im 
prisoned,  disgraced  and  finally  dismissed  from  the  British  Navy. 
Thereafter,  he  took  service  successfully  with  Chile,  when  it  was  fight 
ing  for  its  independence  against  Spain;  with  Brazil,  when  it  was  fight- 


90  Walf-o-the-Sea 


"I  did  hear  that  he  had  been  made  an  admiral  in 
the  Chilean  Navy,"  observed  Captain  Clough. 

"  You're  right,  sir.  I  was  hopin'  you'd  touch  at  Val 
paraiso  an'  I  could  git  my  discharge  from  the  Sharon 
an'  ship  with  him.  If  there's  goin'  to  be  any  fightin' 
on  the  South  American  coast,  I  know  that  that  big  red 
headed  earl  is  bound  to  be  in  it.  I'm  an  old  man,  an' 
I've  served  under  some  great  seamen  in  my  day,  an' 
I've  been  in  some  tidy  battles,  but  I  ain't  had  my  belly 
full  of  fightin'  yet.  Why,  in  so  far  as  he  could  oblige 
a  common  sailor  like  me,  I'm  sartin  he'd  do  anything 
for  me,  so  if  we  gits  to  Valparaiso  an'  he  is  there,  our 
course'll  be  easy." 

"Broadrib,"  said  Clough  gravely,,  "what  you  say 
is  very  interesting,  and  I  have  no  doubt  Lord  Cochrane, 
or  the  Earl  of  Dundonald,  to  give  him  his  latest  title, 
will  give  us  a  helping  hand  for  your  sake,  but  unless 
I  can  get  some  mighty  good  men  to  take  your  place, 
and  I  would  need  about  four  I  think,  I  would  feel 
mighty  sorry  to  lose  you." 

"You  ain't  goin'  to  lose  me,  Cap'n  Clough,"  said 
the  old  sailor  heartily.  "  I  could  ask  for  my  discharge 
from  a  stout  ship  with  a  full  crew,  but  I  ain't  one  that's 
goin'  to  desart  a  ship  in  this  yere  situation,  nor  a  man 
that's  really  saved  my  life  an'  the  lives  of  these  other 
youngsters  here  by  his  courage  an'  darin.'  I'll  stay 

ing  to  free  itself  from  Portugal ;  and  with  Greece  struggling  with 
Turkey.  In  after  years  he  was  fully  exonerated  from  all  the  charges 
against  him  and  was  restored  to  the  English  Navy  with  every  possible 
honor  and  promotion.  His  services  under  all  four  flags  were  most 
distinguished.  He  was  the  greatest  of  sailors  of  fortune  and  only  lacked 
opportunity  to  have  made  a  name  for  himself  worthy  to  be  placed 
alongside  that  of  Drake,  Blake  or  Nelson. —  C.  T.  B. 


Away  for  Valparaiso  91 

with  you  till  you  gits  to  New  Bedford  if  we  don'  git 
wrecked  on  the  way.  Then  I'll  contrive  some  way  to 
get  back  to  the  admiral,  if  he  is  still  flyin'  his  flag 
afloat." 

"Good,"  said  Captain  Clough,  rising.  "Rice  and 
I  will  take  the  first  watch."  He  pulled  out  his  silver 
timepiece.  "  It's  eight  bells  now,"  he  continued.  ;'  You 
and  Storey  turn  in  and  we'll  call  you  at  midnight.  You 
go  too,  Rey.  Tomorrow  night  we'll  get  a  chance  to 
hear  some  stories  of  those  fighting  days  of  yours  with 
that  admiral,  Broadrib.  I  have  heard  some  people 
say  he  was  the  strangest  character  that  ever  sailed  a 
ship." 

"You're  right  there,  Cap'n  Clough,"  said  the  old 
harpooner,  rising  to  his  feet.  "  I  kin  tell  you  some 
things  that'll  make  you  laugh  fit  to  start  a  butt  in  your 
midship  plankin'  about  the  time  when  me  an'  him  was 
fighting  the  Spaniards  an'  the  French  an' " 

"  Well,  we'll  look  forward  to  that  in  the  second  dog 
watch  tomorrow.  Good  night." 

"  Good  night,  sir.  Come  along,  Storey,"  said  the 
old  seaman,  turning  to  go  forward. 

"  We'll  all  bunk  aft  in  the  cabin  for  the  rest  of  this 
cruise,"  said  the  young  captain.  "  Broadrib,  you  take 
the  mate's  room;  Storey,  you  can  have  mine;  Rice, 
you  can  take  the  second  mate's;  I'll  take  the  captain's, 
and  Rey,  you  can  bunk  in  your  own  just  as  you  have. 
We'll  call  you  at  midnight,  men." 


CHAPTER  IX 

A  KISS  IN  THE  DARK 

THE  young  captain  elected  to  take  the  wheel  him 
self  for  the  first  night  watch,  sending  Rice  for 
ward  to  the  forecastle  to  keep  a  bright  lookout  and 
be  in  readiness  for  any  demand.  The  wind  being  on 
the  quarter  and  the  ship  under  short  canvas,  she 
steered  easily.  Barring  a  touch  of  the  helm  now  and 
then,  Clough  had  little  to  do.  He  stood  easily,  grasp 
ing  a  spoke  with  one  hand,  leaning  over  the  wheel,  his 
eyes  glancing  at  the  compass  from  time  to  time  to  see 
that  the  Sharon  kept  her  course. 

The  night  was  quiet,  cloudless,  the  sky  brilliant  with 
the  bright  stars  of  the  south  latitudes.  The  breeze 
was  moderate,  just  fresh  enough  to  dispel  the  lingering 
heat  of  the  recent  day,  and  give  a  fairly  good  way  to 
the  ship,  to  say  nothing  of  contributing  to  the  comfort 
of  her  watch  of  two,  tired  out  by  the  hard  work  of 
the  long,  hot  day  in  that  tropic  weather. 

The  new  captain's  thoughts  covered  a  wide  range. 
There  was  the  ship.  Well  did  he  realize  the  difficult, 
not  to  say  dangerous,  nature  of  the  task  that  lay  before 
him.  Broadrib  was  a  man  of  vast  and  varied  expe 
rience,  to  be  sure;  he  more  nearly  than  any  other  under 
stood  the  magnitude  of  their  undertaking.  Rice  and 
Storey  were  good  seamen,  intelligent  and  capable  be- 

92 


A  Kiss  in  the  Dark  93 

yond  their  station  doubtless,  but  happy-go-lucky  sailors, 
young  enough  not  to  look  very  far  into  the  future  or 
to  care  very  much  what  it  might  demand  of  them. 

For  the  rest  there  was  Rey  —  and  she  was  a  woman. 
For  the  moment  she  bulked  larger  and  more  important 
in  his  eyes  than  the  great  whaler  with  her  thousands 
of  barrels  of  the  richest  sperm  oil  and  her  other  valu 
able  cargo  of  whalebone  and  ambergris. 

Captain  Clough  began  to  speculate  a  little  wildly 
about  her;  to  see  visions  and  to  dream  dreams  around 
the  girl.  If  he  succeeded  in  bringing  the  Sharon  back 
to  New  Bedford  it  would  mean  riches,  according  to 
the  modest  standards  of  those  days,  for  him,  and  for 
Rey.  And  it  would  certainly  get  him  a  ship  to  com 
mand,  with  all  the  potentialities  of  that  position. 

His  thoughts  took  another  turn.  Audrey  was  un 
doubtedly  Captain  Norris'  only  heir.  The  captain  had 
been  a  saver  rather  than  a  spender.  Clough  never 
doubted  but  that  a  tidy  bit  of  property  in  one  shape 
or  another  awaited  the  girl's  claiming  at  New  Bedford. 
She  was  of  age  now,  having  long  since  passed  her  eigh 
teenth  birthday,  and  could  enter  into  immediate  and 
undisputed  possession  so  soon  as  he  had  brought  her 
home. 

This  reflection,  however,  did  not  give  him  the  un 
alloyed  satisfaction  of  his  former  thoughts.  He  him 
self  had  saved  but  little,  and  although  his  lay  of  the 
cruise  and  whatever  salvage  he  could  claim  would 
amount  to  more  than  he  could  have  hoped  to  accumu 
late  in  a  long  time,  it  would  not  make  him  financially 
a  match  for  the  heiress  of  Captain  Howes  Norris.  In 


94  Waif-o-the-Sea 


other  respects  the  match,  upon  which  his  heart  had  been 
set  ever  since  his  discovery  of  her  sex,  would  not  be 
an  unequal  one. 

Benjamin  Clough  came  of  an  old  and  substantial 
New  England  family  of  great  respectability.  Many 
of  his  forebears  had  followed  the  sea,  and  some  of 
them  had  acquired  riches  in  pursuit  of  that  profession. 
But  the  war  of  1812  and  some  bad  speculations  there 
after  had  reduced  that  branch  to  which  Clough  be 
longed  almost  to  poverty.  Forced  by  the  paucity  of 
his  financial  resources,  and  entirely  dependent  upon  his 
own  labors  for  a  livelihood,  he  had  given  up  his  prom 
ising  career  as  a  naval  officer  and  entered  the  mer 
chant  marine.  Therein  his  rise  had  been  rapid.  If 
he  succeeded  in  bringing  the  Sharon  home,  and  if  he 
were  rewarded  therefor  with  a  ship,  he  would  have 
reached  command  rank  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-four; 
and  aided  by  a  little  good  fortune  he  might  hope  to 
go  far.  Eventually  he  might  properly  aspire  to  Audrey 
McRae's  hand  —  but  not  yet 

He  felt  that  honor  demanded  that  he  keep  his  pas 
sion  to  himself.  And  yet  that  very  passion  urged  him 
to  speak  out.  It  was  an  intolerable  situation,  espe 
cially  for  a  man  of  his  decided  temperament.  But  one 
ray  of  comfort  could  he  see.  If  he  could  not  in  honor 
declare  himself  to  her,  no  one  else  could,  at  least  not 
so  long  as  they  were  on  the  ship  together.  He  had 
the  field  to  himself.  Nor  did  he  have  any  idea  as  to 
the  young  woman's  feelings  toward  him. 

It  had  not  taken  a  second  for  that  kindly,  protecting, 
proprietary  liking  he  had  entertained  for  the  young 


A  Kiss  in  the  Dark  95 

lad,  who  had  been  thrown  so  much  in  his  company  as 
a  boy,  to  develop  into  something  warmer  and  more 
devoted,  when  he  discovered  the  truth.  But  whether 
or  not  she  still  cherished  for  him  no  more  than  a  boy's 
frank  admiration  and  devotion  for  a  young  man  who 
had  been  kind  to  him,  he  could  not  tell.  He  wasn't 
skilled  in  dealing  with  women  at  best,  and  he  was  com 
pletely  at  sea  as  to  her  regard  for  him.  He  was  a 
modest  man  where  women  were  concerned,  for  all  he 
had  plenty  of  that  calm  assurance  so  necessary  to  com 
mand  upon  the  sea,  and  without  which  no  great  sailor 
ever  was. 

Audrey  McRae  had  dutifully  gone  to  her  cabin  like 
the  rest  at  the  order  of  the  new  captain.  She  had 
undressed  and  had  regularly  turned  in,  but  she  had 
been  unable  to  sleep.  After  a  time  she  got  out  of  her 
berth  and  tiptoed  to  the  door  of  her  room,  which  she 
opened  with  due  caution.  As  she  listened  she  heard 
above  the  creaking  and  groaning  of  the  timber,  inva 
riable  accompaniment  to  the  movement  of  a  wooden 
ship  in  the  waters,  the  deep  breathing  of  Storey  and 
the  heavy  snoring  of  the  old  harpooner,  which  told 
her  they  were  both  in  a  sound  sleep.  She  knew  that 
Captain  Clough  would  be  at  the  helm  alone  and  Rice 
would  naturally  stand  his  watch  forward  on  the  fore 
castle,  quite  out  of  sight  in  the  darkness  from  the  man 
at  the  wheel. 

A  daring  design  came  into  her  mind  therefor,  and 
she  at  once  proceeded  to  carry  it  out.  The  huge  old- 
fashioned  sea  chest  lashed  to  ring  bolts  in  her  cabin 
contained  much  more  even  than  a  well-appointed  young 


96  Waif-o-the-Sea 


sailor's  outfit.  She  laughed  to  herself  as  she  rum 
maged  among  its  contents  until  she  came  upon  what 
she  wanted.  Thereafter  she  was  busy  for  some  time 
before  the  small  mirror  fixed  to  the  bulkhead  of  her 
cabin  and  which  she  illuminated  by  a  candle  lantern 
which  was  part  of  her  cabin  furniture  —  an  unusual 
privilege  extended  her  by  her  uncle. 

When  she  had  finished  her  self-appointed  task,  she 
tiptoed  again  through  the  main  cabin  into  the  captain's 
vacant  room,  and  took  thence  from  a  hook  to  which 
it  hung  in  his  armoire,  or  wardrobe,  a  capacious  boat 
cloak,  which  she  threw  around  her  shoulders.  Then 
with  the  same  caution  and  skill  she  noiselessly  passed 
through  the  main  cabin  once  more  and  slipped  out  on 
deck,  having  disturbed  nobody. 

Captain  Clough  was  endowed  by  nature  with  un 
usually  keen  faculties,  which  had  been  much  enhanced 
by  constant  usage,  but  he  was  so  deeply  engrossed  in  his 
thoughts  that  he  did  not  hear  her  light  footfall  on 
the  deck  abaft  him.  She  realized  that  she  was  as  yet 
undetected,  and  she  paused  accordingly  in  the  deeper 
shadow  cast  by  the  break  of  the  poop,  to  study  him 
unobserved. 

If  the  young  man  who  was  a  prey  to  reflections  at 
once  bitter  and  sweet  could  have  enjoyed  a  fair  sight 
of  the  girl  he  loved,  his  anxieties  would  have  been 
dispelled  as  if  by  magic.  Her  presence  unsuspected, 
she  allowed  herself  to  give  vent  to  her  feelings  so  far 
as  was  possible  without  betraying  her  presence.  Her 
breath  came  much  quicker,  her  young  and  still  some 
what  immature  breast  rose  and  fell  more  rapidly,  her 


'A  Kiss  in  the  Dark  97 

lips  parted  a  little,  her  eyes  shone  in  the  darkness  like 
the  stars  in  the  black  canopy  of  the  sky  overhead. 
"  Beauty's  ensign"  was  in  truth  advanced  in  her  cheeks. 
There  could  be  no  doubt  that  she  loved  him  —  not  with 
the  admiration  and  loyalty  of  a  boy,  but  with  a  woman's 
deeper  and  more  ardent  feeling. 

His  vagrant,  unconsidered,  hastily  withdrawn  touch 
upon  her  when  she  lay  senseless  in  his  arms  in  the  cabin 
had  awakened  even  in  her  unconscious  self,  feelings 
and  emotions  with  which  she  had  long  suspected  she 
had  become  possessed,  but  which  she  had  never  allowed 
herself  to  realize.  A  boy  she  had  appeared,  as  a  boy 
she  had  been  treated;  he  and  everyone  had  believed 
her  so  to  be,  and  a  boy  she  had  determined  to  remain 
until  the  end  of  the  cruise. 

But  she  had  awakened — with  the  young  officer 
bending  over  her  in  amazement,  almost  terror — to  a 
sudden  realization  that,  so  far  at  least  as  he  was  con 
cerned,  the  masquerade  was  over.  She  had  awakened 
to  more  than  that.  She  knew  at  once  that  she  loved 
him  not  as  a  boy  but  as  a  woman.  No  thought  of  any 
disparity  in  rank  or  fortune  entered  her  mind  to  disturb 
her.  She  was  his  if  he  wanted  her.  But  did  he  want 
her?  That  was  a  perturbing  question. 

He  had  liked  her  extremely  as  a  boy.  His  treat 
ment  of  her  as  a  woman  had  been  unexceptionable, 
too  unexceptionable  almost.  Something  had  to  be 
done  to  clear  up  the  situation.  She  felt  that  some 
how  the  initiative  must  come  from  her.  So  she 
had  made  her  plan  that  night  and  was  now  about 
to  try  it. 


Waif-o-the-Sea 


It  was  a  luxury  to  stand  unobserved  and  dwell  upon 
him  with  her  glance,  to  feel  his  nearness,  to  be  con 
scious,  himself  not  so,  of  a  beloved  presence  in  that 
heavenly  night.  Yet  she  must  move  to  break  the  spell 
—  to  continue  it?  The  next  few  moments  would  deter 
mine.  She  glided  forward  and  touched  him  lightly  on 
the  arm. 

In  the  dim  light  cast  by  the  binnacle  lamp,  helped 
by  the  faint  illumination  from  the  stars  overhead,  the 
captain  became  aware  of  her  presence.  He  could  even 
make  out  her  smiling  lips,  her  bright  eyes.  For  the 
rest  she  was  shrouded  in  the  boat  cloak  which  envel 
oped  her  from  head  to  foot. 

"You,"  he  whispered,  recovering  himself  and  glad 
in  his  surprise.  "Why  are  you  not  asleep?" 

"I  couldn't  sleep.     I  came  on  deck  to  talk  to  you." 

There  was  a  pause  at  this,  ominous  to  the  girl. 
Clough  could  not  trust  himself  to  speak.  It  was  so 
sudden  and  he  was  so  unprepared. 

"Don't  you  want  me?"  she  whispered  softly,  half 
turning  away  in  great  disappointment  after  waiting  in 
vain  for  his  word. 

"Want  you!"  exclaimed  the  young  man  softly,  but 
with  a  sudden  vehemence  which  set  her  heart  bounding 
again.  "O  Rey,  Miss,  I  mean  —  you  can't  think  how 
much  I  do  want  you." 

She  was  still  turning  as  if  minded  to  return  to  the 
cabin  despite  his  words.  He  reached  out  and  caught 
hold  of  the  boat  cloak.  With  a  quick  movement  she 
released  it,  stepped  clear  of  its  folds,  leaving  it  in  his 
grasp.  There  was  light  enough  to  see  her.  In  his 


'A  Kiss  in  the  Dark  99 

surprise  the  young  officer  let  go  the  wheel  —  a  cardinal 
sin  in  a  seaman  —  and  stood  staring.  For  it  was  not 
Rey,  the  young  lad  who  confronted  him  on  the  deck 
in  that  heavenly  night  on  that  quiet  ship,  but  Audrey, 
the  young  woman,  clothed  in  a  dress  proper  to  her  sex, 
which  she  had  carefully  preserved  in  her  chest,  for 
what  emergency  she  had  not  known. 

"  Good  God ! "  exclaimed  the  captain,  not  in  the 
least  irreverently.  "  I  never  thought  to  see  you  so." 

"And  why  not?" 

"There  is  no  reason,  of  course,  but " 

"Don't  you  —  like  me  —  this  way?"  She  asked  in 
pretty  coquetry,  turning  about  slowly  the  while  as  if 
to  give  him  the  benefit  of  a  view  of  her  from  every 
angle. 

"Aft  there!  Is  anything  wrong,  sir"  came  a  rough 
hail  from  the  forecastle. 

"No,  why  do  you  ask?"  answered  the  captain,  who 
very  well  knew  what  was  wrong. 

He  seized  the  wheel  again,  revolved  it  rapidly,  with 
his  eyes  on  the  compass  card,  while  Audrey  hastily 
picked  up  the  cloak,  wrapped  it  around  her  and  made 
ready  for  flight. 

"  Ship's  head  falling  off,  sir,"  answered  Rice. 

"  I  must  have  nodded  over  the  wheel,"  replied 
Clough  readily. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir.  Shall  I  come  aft  and  relieve  you 
for  a  trick?" 

"  No.  I'm  all  right  now.  Stay  where  you  are  and 
keep  a  bright  lookout  ahead." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir." 


iioo  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"That  was  a  near  thing,"  said  the  captain,  turning 
to  the  girl,  who  again  laid  aside  the  cloak.  "You 
actually  made  me  let  go  the  wheel!" 

"You  didn't  say  whether  you  liked  me  —  this  way, 
or  not,"  she  persisted,  determined  to  get  an  answer. 

"Like  you?  That  way  and  every  way,  Rey  —  Miss 
—  I  mean,"  was  his  ready  and  fervent  answer. 

"Well,  then,  why  are  you  so  formal  with  me?" 

"Formal?" 

"  You  call  me  '  Miss  '  and  you  treat  me  so  differently. 
Why  not  Rey  before  the  others  and  Audrey  when  we 
are  alone?" 

"  But  you  were  a  boy  before " 

"What  difference  does  that  make?" 

"All  the  difference  in  the  world.  You  are  not  a 
boy  but  a  woman,  my  former  captain's  niece,  almost 
his  daughter,  part  owner  of  this  ship " 

"I  wish  I  had  stayed  a  boy  then,"  she  interrupted. 
"  We  were  such  good  friends.  You  seemed  to  like  me 
so  much  and  I  was  so  proud  and  glad,  but  now " 

"It's  not  that  I  like  you  less,  Miss  —  Audrey" — 
there  was  a  sufficient  pause  between  the  two  words  to 
give  her  pleasure  —  "now  that  you  are  a  woman,  but 
things  are  so  different." 

"Why  are  they?"  she  asked,  coming  very  near  him. 

"Because  I  —  you  —  oh,  don't  tempt  me,"  he 
pleaded,  desperately,  trying  to  turn  his  head  away,  or 
to  withdraw  from  her,  an  impossible  task  because  she 
had  caught  him  between  the  forward  and  after  wheels 
of  the  steering  gear,  the  Sharon  being  provided  with 
a  double  wheel. 


A  Kiss  in  the  Dark  101 

"Tempt  you  to  what?"  she  asked  with  charming 
archness.  She  could  not  feel  strange  with  this  young 
man  with  whom  she  had  lived  in  such  pleasant  asso 
ciation  and  intimacy  in  the  narrow  confines  of  a  ship 
for  so  long  a  time. 

Captain  Clough  stared  at  her,  wishful  to  answer, 
yet  afraid.  He  would  never  have  believed  that  clothes 
could  make  so  great  a  difference  in  a  human  being. 
He  had  not  given  any  particular  thought  to  Key's 
appearance  while  he  believed  her  a  boy,  save  to  note 
that  she  was  an  unusually  good-looking  lad,  albeit  a 
rather  delicate  one.  But  then,  in  that  lonely  hour,  in 
that  soft  southern  night,  Audrey  McRae  appeared  to 
him,  and  would  have  looked  so  to  almost  any  man,  too 
beautiful  for  words.  She  had  not  lost  the  feminine 
art  of  adorning  herself  to  the  best  advantage  with  the 
means  at  hand  through  long  disuse  of  it.  And  she 
had  the  greatest  interest  then  to  make  the  most  of 
the  undoubted  charm  she  possessed.  She  was  not  a 
small  woman;  she  looked  larger  and  more  splendid 
in  her  woman's  garb  than  as  a  boy.  It  flashed  into 
Clough's  mind  that  she  would  be  an  ideal  wife  for  a 
sailor. 

In  everything  she  was  different  from  what  she  had 
been.  True,  her  hair,  beautifully  golden  and  curly, 
was  still  short,  but  a  ribbon  about  it  added  the  feminine 
touch.  Her  dress  was  cut  rather  low  at  the  neck,  and 
although  the  opening  was  partly  filled  by  a  bit  of  lace 
and  linen,  he  could  still  see  the  dazzling  whiteness  that 
had  aroused  his  admiration  when  he  had  so  uncere 
moniously  profaned  its  sanctity,  albeit  so  ignorantly 


IO2  Waif-o-the-Sea 


and  innocently,  a  few  days  since.  The  dress  had  color, 
blue,  he  decided,  swiftly  appraising  her  in  the  starlight, 
which  hid  so  much  and  suggested  so  much.  Happening 
to  glance  down  at  her  feet,  he  noticed  that  the  plain,  sub 
stantial  buckled  shoe  she  wore  habitually  had  been  dis 
carded  for  foolish  feminine  slippers,  small  enough  to 
be  in  good  proportion  to  her  figure,  if  not  so  small  as 
the  infatuated  man  fancied  them.  Daylight  would 
have  shown  much  that  was  lacking  in  the  dress  accord 
ing  to  the  strict  canons  of  the  fashions  of  the  day. 
For  instance,  Audrey  had  not  been  able  to  reencompass 
herself  in  stays,  having  moved  freely  so  long  without 
them.  Also  she  had  become  larger  in  the  waist  and 
chest  in  her  boylike  liberty.  It  had  been  a  work  of 
difficulty  for  her  to  get  into  the  outgrown  frock  and 
fasten  it  upon  her  person.  She  would  have  given  up 
the  attempt  had  not  so  much,  as  she  fancied,  been  at 
stake. 

The  young  man  did  not  answer  her  question.  She 
was  a  determined  young  woman,  else  she  had  never 
forced  her  uncle  to  receive  her  aboard  the  ship  and 
sanction  her  disguise.  When  the  silence,  which  she 
found  as  delicious  as  he  found  it  unbearable,  had  con 
tinued  as  long  as  she  thought  proper,  she  repeated  her 
question  insistently. 

"Tempt  you  to  what?" 

And  it  was  not  so  much  her  words  as  her  manner 
of  innocent  abandon  —  after  all  she  was  very  young 
and  frank  and  inexperienced,  as  well  as  very  much  in 
love  with  the  man  for  whom  she  could  entertain  as 
much  respect  as  feeling  —  which  broke  down  his  self- 


A  Kiss  in  the  Dark  103 

control.  She  moved  nearer  to  him,  having  fairly  caught 
him,  so  that  escape  there  was  none,  unless  he  roughly 
thrust  her  aside.  She  smiled  at  him;  she  laid  her  firm, 
boyish  hand  on  his  arm  again.  She  was  suddenly 
become  irresistible.  Benjamin  Clough  could  struggle 
no  longer.  In  his  turn  he  moved  a  step  to  meet  her. 
He  had  been  clinging,  as  ship  to  sheet  anchor,  to  the 
wheel  with  both  hands.  He  released  one  spoke  and 
freed  one  arm,  and  laid  his  hand  on  her  shoulder.  She 
did  not  resent  it  or  shrink  back  —  on  the  contrary! 

"  Tempt  me  to  tell  you  I  love  you  —  I  —  O 
Audrey " 

"But  do  you?" 

"  From  the  moment  you  awoke  in  my  arms  and  I 
knew  you  were  a  woman." 

"  I'm  so  glad,"  said  the  girl  simply.  "  I  wanted  to 
hear  you  say  that.  I  was  afraid  you  didn't.  Thank 
you  so  much,"  she  added  quaintly,  and  then 

Well,  when  the  young  man  came  to  his  senses  she 
was  gone.  He  was  alone  upon  the  quarter  deck.  But 
he  could  still  feel  the  pressure  of  her  lips  upon  his  own, 
for  she  had  boldly  and  suddenly  kissed  him,  and  then, 
before  he  could  catch  her  in  his  arms  and  press  her 
to  his  heart,  she  had  fled.  But  she  had  kissed  him. 
The  woman  he  loved  had  volunteered  that  exquisite 
caress.  Life,  the  ship,  the  sea,  the  world,  would  never 
be  the  same  to  him.  His  impulse  had  been  to  let  go 
the  wheel  and  follow  her.  He  resisted  that.  In  the 
first  place  it  was  his  duty  to  remain  at  that  wheel;  in 
the  second  place  he  felt  that  the  command  of  the  affair 
between  them  had  been  lodged  where  it  ought  to  be, 


104  Waif-o-the-Sea 


in  the  woman's  hands.  He  would  leave  the  future 
ordering  of  their  lives  to  her  now  that  he  had  con 
fessed  that  he  loved  her,  and  now  that  her  kiss  had 
told  him  so  much  as  to  her  own  response. 

It  was  a  happy  young  officer  indeed  who  hung  over 
the  wheel  for  the  remainder  of  his  watch  in  that  divine 
night  in  the  South  Seas.  A  difficult  task  to  bring  the 
Sharon  and  her  now  doubly  precious  cargo  safe  home? 
Nonsense  !  He  could  have  carried  the  ship  to  the  stars 
themselves,  alone,  unaided,  if  she  would  only  come 
forth  and  kiss  him  again! 


CHAPTER  X 

OLD  BROADRIB  SPINS  A  YARN 

SAILORS  are  usually  light-hearted,  care-free,  happy- 
go-lucky  people.  The  trade  wind  held  fair,  the 
breeze  was  brisk,  the  ship  moved  along  easily,  there 
were  no  clouds  upon  the  horizon,  all  hands  were  in  a 
cheerful  mood.  There  was  little  work  to  do  —  in 
fact,  nothing  at  all  except  tend  the  braces  and  steer  the 
ship  and  provide  the  fare.  What  might  loom  in  the 
future  gave  nobody  any  great  amount  of  concern. 

Captain  Clough  was  young,  the  girl  he  loved  had 
kissed  him,  and  although  since  that  delectable  night 
he  had  not  been  able  to  secure  any  private  conversation 
with  her,  so  charmingly  elusive  had  she  proved,  he 
knew  that  sooner  or  later  he  would  enjoy  another 
opportunity.  So  he  bided  his  time  contentedly  enough, 
hugging  his  secret,  and  sometimes  surprising  a  glance 
from  her  eye  that  told  him  many  pleasant  things.  Yet 
that  he  could  not  see  her  alone  kept  him  in  a  state  of 
anxiety  and  anticipation  not  so  enjoyable  to  him  as 
to  her. 

The  men  were  well  fed  and  better  lodged  than  ever 
before.  They  really  were  enjoying  themselves  hugely 
on  the  voyage.  They  had  not  the  slightest  suspicion 
of  the  sex  of  Rey,  and  as  for  her,  she  was  having  the 
time  of  her  life. 

105 


io6  Waif-o-the-Sea 


She  found  it  delicious  to  tantalize  the  young  man 
who  had  domineered  over  her  so  long,  albeit  he  had 
never  exerted  his  authority  unpleasantly.  She  was 
young  enough  to  be  full  of  fun,  and  she  found  the 
amazing  situation  most  agreeable  to  her  vanity  and 
to  her  affection.  She  had  Clough's  secret  as  he  had 
her  secret,  but  he  did  not  have  her — not  yet.  She 
bent  all  her  energies  to  avoiding  any  secret  interview 
at  which  she  might  lose  her  vantage,  and  sometimes 
she  nearly  drove  the  young  officer  crazy. 

The  sailors  were  good  men  and  true.  The  two  young 
down-Easterners  were  men  of  unusual  intelligence. 
Old  Broadrib,  originally  from  a  rough  class  not  quite 
so  high  socially  and  intellectually,  had  been  softened 
and  mellowed  by  his  long  association  with  the  others. 
They  lived  aft  in  the  cabin  in  a  certain  equality,  but 
they  did  not  take  advantage  of  that  fact  by  any  undue 
familiarity  or  disrespect.  It  would  have  been  idle  and 
foolish  for  Clough  to  have  maintained  the  reserve  or 
to  have  assumed  the  privileges  of  a  full-fledged  captain 
under  the  circumstances,  and  he  had  too  much  good 
sense  to  attempt  that. 

It  was  the  habit  of  the  little  party  to  get  together 
around  the  wheel  after  supper  to  beguile  the  last  hour 
of  the  dog  watch  with  pleasant  conversation  as  they 
smoked  their  pipes  —  all  but  Rey  —  preparatory  to  set 
ting  the  watch  for  the  night  and  turning  in. 

"So  you  see,"  concluded  Clough  one  pleasant  even 
ing,  after  a  long  and  vivid  account  of  the  famous  battle 
in  which  the  Essex  had  been  destroyed,  "  I  know  Val 
paraiso  harbor  pretty  well.  I  have  sailed  in  it  and  I 


Old  Broadrib  Spins  a  Yarn  107 

have  swam  in  it.  I  will  never  forget  the  looks  of  it 
after  that  battle  between  the  Essex  and  the  Phoebe, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  Cherub.  It  is  not  likely  to  fade 
out  of  my  memory,  boy  though  I  was  at  the  time." 

"  That's  a  great  yarn  o'  your'n,  Cap'n  Clough,"  ob 
served  Broadrib.  "  It  was  certainly  one  great,  fine  battle. 
I  was  a  prisoner  ashore,  an'  perhaps  I  could  see  it  better 
than  you  people  who  were  in  the  thick  of  the  fightin'." 

"And  we  would  have  won  it,  too,"  said  Clough, 
"  if  Captain  Hillyar  hadn't  taken  us  at  such  a  disad 
vantage." 

"Well,  sir,  I  don't  know  about  that,  savin'  your 
presence,"  said  Broadrib  warmly,  if  respectfully. 
"The  Phoebe  was  a  smart  ship,  an'  Cap'n  Hillyar  was 
a  fine  officer,  to  say  nothing  of  the  Cherub." 

"  We  beat  you  most  every  time  we  fought  with  you 
in  the  war  of  1812,"  put  in  Audrey. 

"  Not  allus,  not  allus,"  returned  old  Broadrib. 
"  Remember  the  Chesapeake  and  the  Shannon." 

'Yes,  but  Captain  Lawrence's  ship  wasn't " 

"  Steady,  steady,"  said  Clough,  interposing  to  calm 
the  troubled  waters.  "  It  is  all  over  now.  We  are 
all  good  friends,  especially  on  this  ship.  Remember 
we're  of  the  same  blood  and " 

"  Right  you  are,  Cap'n  Clough,"  said  old  Broadrib 
heartily.  "  I  believe  you  people  once  fought  the 
Frenchies,  didn't  you?" 

;'  Yes,  we  had  a  little  mix-up  a  score  of  years  back, 
about  1800." 

"An'  of  course  you  came  off  first  best?" 

"  I  believe  so.     My  father  was  a  shipmate  of  old 


io8  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Commodore  Truxtun's.  He  knew  John  Barry  well, 
and  he  had  even  seen  the  great  Paul  Jones  when  he 
was  a  boy." 

"Well,  then,  we  kin  talk  about  fightin'  the  French 
without  hurtin'  nobody's  feelin's,  can't  we?" 

"  I  guess  so,"  laughed  the  young  captain.  "  By  the 
way,  Broadrib,  you  were  going  to  tell  us  about  that 
red-headed  admiral  friend  of  yours." 

"  So  I  was,"  said  the  old  man,  knocking  the  ashes 
out  of  his  pipe  as  he  settled  himself  for  a  long  yarn. 

"I  have  heard  something  about  him,"  remarked 
Rice,  as  Broadrib  looked  meditatively  up  toward  the 
sky,  as  if  to  collect  his  thoughts. 

"  So  have  I,"  chimed  in  Storey. 

"  I  guess  everybody  has,"  added  Clough. 

"I  haven't,"  said  Audrey. 

"  Well,  you're  a  leetle  too  young  yet,  but  you're  goin' 
to  hear  about  him  now,  my  iad,"  said  old  Broadrib, 
who  was  very  fond  of  Rey,  as  they  all  were.  "  It 
wasn't  so  many  years  ago  when  I  was  made  bo's'n's 
mate  of  a  leetle  brig-o'-war  called  the  Speedy.  She 
warn't  well  named  either,  for  she  was  a  stiff  old  tub, 
an'  almighty  slow.  The  only  way  you  could  git  any 
speed  out  of  her  was  to  clap  on  sail  until  her  canvas  was 
like  to  jerk  the  masts  out  of  her.  Her  armament  was 
nothin'  but  popguns,  her  cap'n  was  a  young  leftenant 
named  Cochrane,  Thomas  Cochrane.  He  was  a  lord, 
too,  an'  now  he's  by  way  of  bein*  an  earl,  the  Earl  of 
Dundonald  they  calls  him,  but  to  the  old  salts  who 
served  under  him  he'll  always  be  Lord  Cochrane.  I 
remembers  him  well.  He  was  a  great,  tall,  lanky  sort 


Old  Broadrib  Spins  a  Yarn  109 

of  a  man  with  a  shock  of  fiery  red  hair  that  no  paint, 
or  grease,  or  powder  could  ever  slick  down;  an'  a 
mighty  handsome  face,  with  a  big  nose  an'  a  pair  of 
piercin'  gray  eyes.  He  was  strong  as  a  bull,  too.  An' 
the  best  seaman  I  ever  sailed  with — .savin'  your  pres 
ence,  Cap'n  Clough.  He  was  so  tall  that  when  he 
stood  up  in  his  cabin  he  had  to  take  the  deck  skylight 
off  to  git  head  room  !  Why,  sir,  an'  mates,  I've  actually 
seed  him  a  shavin'  hisself  in  the  mornin',  layin'  his  hot 
water  basin  on  the  deck,  him  a  standin'  in  the  cabin 
starin'  over  the  hatchway  into  a  lookin'  glass  which 
he  propped  up  agin  the  coamings.  It  was  a  funny 
sight.  The  brig  was  a  triflin'  affair." 

"What  sort  of  a  battery  did  she  carry?"  asked 
Clough. 

"  Fourteen  four-pound  guns,  sir.  Seven  of  'em  to 
a  broadside,"  answered  the  harpooner.  "I've  often 
heerd  the  red-headed  fire  eater  say  he  could  stow  away 
a  whole  broadside  in  the  tail  pockets  of  his  coat,  an' 
I  guess  he  could — fourteen  pounds  in  each  pocket, 
though  it  would  make  settin'  down  difficult!  I  think 
they  give  him  the  brig  to  get  rid  of  him.  He  was 
allus  gittin'  into  trouble.  He  was  a  hard  man  to 
handle.  No  cap'n  wanted  him  on  his  ship.  He  had 
too  many  ideas  of  his  own  which  didn't  take  with  older 
officers,  an'  I  guess  he  was  inclined  to  be  insubordinate 
an'  hard  to  control.  He  had  a  fierce  temper,  too, 
'specially  when  he  was  crossed,  which  was  never  done 
by  nobody  on' the  brig — no,  sir,  not  if  you  know'd  him 
like  we  did !  But  he  treated  his  officers  an'  men  fine. 
He  knew  jest  how  to  handle  'em,  an'  he  hadn't  been 


HO  Waif-o-the-Sea 


on  board  the  Speedy  a  week  afore  we  was  ready  to 
do  anythin'  for  him,  to  go  anywhere  with  him.  We 
jest  worshiped  him.  He  was  hot-headed  an'  peppery, 
too.  Never  hesitated  to  speak  his  mind  free;  an'  that 
ingenious!  Lord!  I  remembers  one  day  we  was 
cruisin'  off  the  harbor  of  Palamos,  an'  we'd  jest  bin 
combin'  the  Spanish  coast,  capturin'  coaster  after 
coaster,  an'  ship  after  ship.  Why,  every  man's  pockets 
was  fairly  bustin'  with  prize  money.  I  don't  know 
how  he  done  it,  but  he  seemed  to  git  more  speed  out 
of  the  tub  than  anyone  else  who'd  ever  tried  her.  He'd 
carry  sail  in  a  half  gale  of  wind  till  the  masts  was 
snappin'  an'  bendin'  like  coach  whips,  but  nothin'  ever 
give  'way.  Well,  where  was  I  ?  " 

"You  were  off  the  harbor  of  Palamos,  Mate," 
answered  Storey. 

"Aye,  aye,  so  I  was.  We'd  been  goin'  up  an'  down 
the  coast,  enterin'  harbors,  cuttin'  out  boats,  an'  actin' 
as  impident  an'  free  like  as  if  we  was  backed  up  by 
the  ships  of  the  line.  There  was  three  or  four  Spanish 
cruisers  lyin'  at  anchor  there,  an'  they'd  heerd  about 
the  Speedy,  an'  they  rather  suspicioned  that  we  was 
her,"  continued  the  old  man,  with  his  usual  disregard 
of  grammar.  "  We  wasn't  showin'  no  flag,  of  course, 
an'  by  an'  by  they  decided  they'd  send  a  frigate  out 
to  look  us  over,  so  a  big  whale  of  a  ship  called  the 
Gamo " 

"How  did  you  find  out  her  name,  Mr.  Broadrib?" 
asked  Audrey. 

"We  took  her  arterwards,"  answered  the  old  har- 
pooner,  chuckling  at  the  recollection.  "  She  made  sail, 


Old  Broadrib  Spins  a  Yarn  ill 

slipped  her  moorin's,  an'  came  out  to  investigate  us. 
Well,  we  was  pretty  well  loaded.  We  had  been  takin' 
a  lot  of  prizes,  an'  had  a  good  many  prisoners  aboard, 
an'  a  lot  of  stuff  from  vessels  that  had  been  driv  ashore 
an'  wrecked,  an'  we  couldn't  make  no  speed  at  all. 
Besides,  I'd  often  heerd  the  cap'n  say  the  thing  he 
hated  most  of  all  was  to  run  away  from  the  enemy. 
He  decided  on  a  bold  course.  He  says  to  his  young 
leftenant  —  fine  young  fellow,  too  —  'I  guess  we'll 
just  stand  in  and  see  what  this  Spanish  frigate  wants 
of  us.' 

1 '  Surely,  m'lord,'  says  Mr.  Parker,  the  young  first 
luff —  I  was  standin'  right  aft  at  the  con,  an'  heerd 
the  whole  conversation  —  'you  ain't  intendin'  to  fight 
a  ship  of  thirty  guns  with  this  brig? ' 

' '  Oh,  I  don't  know,'  says  Cochrane  kinder  keerless- 
like,  '  a  stout  English  brig  like  this  ought  to  be  a  match 
for  any  kind  of  a  Spanish  frigate  afloat.' 

' '  Oh,  yes,  m'lord,'  returned  the  leftenant,  quite  sar 
castic,  '  I  suppose  seven  four-pound  guns  in  broadside 
is  a  pretty  fair  match  for  a  dozen  long  twelves,  to  say 
nothin'  of  a  few  eighteens  an'  sixes,  an'  mebbe  a 
twenty-four-pounder.' 

"With  that  his  lordship  looks  at  the  leftenant  an' 
laughs. 

"'I  guess  you're  right,'  he  says,  most  cheerful,  'buf 
what  can  I  do?    Would  you  have  me  strike  the  flag?' 

"  '  Never,'  says  the  leftenant. 

' '  An'  yet  they'd  sink  us  with  a  broadside,'  says 
m'lord. 

" '  Quite  so,'  says  the  leftenant. 


112  Waif-o-the-Sea 


'Therefore,  I'll  have  to  try  a  trick,'  says  m'lord. 

"  '  A  trick  it  will  be,'  says  the  leftenant. 

"  With  that  I  busts  out  laughin',  an'  Lord  Cochrane 
he  shoots  a  glance  at  me  an'  says,  most  stern  an'  fierce, 
*  What  in  blank  are  you  laughin'  at,  you  old  shellback? ' 

" '  I'm  jest  thinkin'  how  mad  them  Spaniards  will 
be  when  you  play  that  there  trick  on  them,  m'lord,' 
says  I. 

"  '  What  trick? '  says  my  lord. 

"Lord  love  your  honor,'  says  I,  'how  should  I 
know  what  trick  you  are  goin'  to  play  on  'em.  But 
knowin'  your  lordship  as  I  does,  I  knows  it'll  be  a 
good  one.' 

"  'You  see/  says  m'lord,  turnin'  to  Leftenant  Parker. 
'  How  could  I  give  up  the  brig  an'  disapp'int  men  like 
old  Broadrib,  who  trusts  me?  Now,  Mr.  Parker,  you 
jest  send  someone  below  and  fish  up  that  Danish  quar 
termaster  we  took  out  of  that  last  Spanish  ship  where 
he  had  been  made  prisoner,  an','  he  says,  'git  me  his 
uniform  from  off  him.  Broadrib,'  he  says,  as  the 
leftenant  turns  away,  'do  you  know  the  Danish  flag?' 

'"Not  me,  sir,'  says  I. 

"Well,  he  walked  up  to  the  flag  locker  and  pulled 
out  a  flag. 

"'That'll  be  it,'  he  says.  'You  bend  that  on  to 
the  halliards,  an'  when  I  gives  the  order,  h'ist  away.' 

"An'  then  he  called  a  young  seaman  and  says,  'See 
that  yeller  pennant  there?' 

"  'Yes,  yer  honor,'  says  the  young  seaman,  which  his 
name  was  Higgs,  I  well  remembers. 

"'Well,'  he  says,  'Higgs' — he  knowed  everybody 


Old  Broadrib  Spins  a  Yarn  113 

on  board,  of  course.  That  was  part  of  his  power.  He 
could  call  us  all  by  name.  He  says,  'Well,  Higgs, 
when  I  gives  the  word,  you  h'ist  that  yeller  flag  at 
the  main.' 

"  'Aye,  aye,  m'lord,'  says  Higgs,  him  an'  me  gittin' 
the  flags  bent  on  proper. 

"  Pretty  soon  Leftenant  Parker  come  back  with  the 
Danish  quartermaster,  half  naked  an'  protestin'  violent. 

" '  Now,  Mr.  Parker,'  says  Lord  Cochrane,  grinnin' 
at  the  Dane,  '  gimme  that  man's  uniform.' 

"With  that  he  grabs  it  an'  dives  below,  after  tellin' 
someone  to  cover  up  the  Dane  till  he'd  got  through 
with  the  uniform,  an'  pretty  soon  he  comes  out  with 
the  Danish  uniform  on.  You  could  laugh  with  the 
cap'n,  but  it  wasn't  safe  to  laugh  at  him.  But  I  nearly 
bust  agin  when  I  saw  him,  an'  so  did  lots  of  others, 
only  we  didn't  let  him  see  us,  not  by  no  means,  for 
the  Dane  was  a  smallish  man,  an'  fat,  an'  his  uniform 
wasn't  built  for  a  man  like  his  lordship,  though  he'd 
got  into  it  somehow. 

"  'Tight  fit,'  he  says  to  the  leftenant,  grinnin'  at  him 
as  he  spoke. 

'"Yes,  sir,  but  it  sets  off  your  figure  fine,'  was  Mr. 
Parker's  reply,  which  he  done  it  without  crackin'  a 
smile  or  turnin'  a  hair,  though  I  never  seed  how  he 
could. 

"His  lordship  shot  a  glance  at  him,  but  Mr.  Parker 
kep'  as  solemn  as  a  church,  an'  so  the  cap'n  walked 
for'ard.  He  finds  it  pretty  hard  goin',  too,  his  breeches 
bein'  so  tight.  Well,  he  takes  his  stand  by  the  gang 
way,  an'  he  brings  the  Dane  with  him,  dressed  decent 


H4  Walf-o-the-Sea 


an'  proper  now;  leastwise  covered  with  a  boat  cloak. 
Then  he  orders  Mr.  Parker  to  heave  to  the  brig. 
When  the  Spanish  frigate  got  near  us  she  hove  to  her 
self,  up  to  wind'ard  of  us,  an'  dropped  a  boat  over 
board  which  was  rowed  down  to  investigate.  Jest  as 
soon  as  they  come  within  hailin'  distance,  Cap'n  Coch- 
rane  he  leaned  over  an'  whispered  to  the  Dane.  I 
never  seed  a  man's  face  change  so  quick  as  his'n  did. 
He  laughed  all  over  hisself.  He'd  been  starin'  at  the 
frigate,  feelin'  pretty  gloomy  at  the  prospeck  of  bein' 
back  in  a  Spanish  prison  agin,  but  he  hollered  out,  half 
in  Danish,  half  in  Spanish. 

111  Boat  ahoy!' 

'"Ahoy  the  brig!'  the  boat  officer  calls  back  in 
Spanish,  tellin'  his  men  to  lay  on  their  oars." 

"Do  you  know  Spanish,  Broadrib?"  asked  Clough. 

"Well,  I've  picked  up  enough  of  it  to  tell  what's 
bein'  said  gener'ly,"  answered  old  Broadrib.  ''You 
see,  I  larned  it  in  that  war.  I  understood  all  that 
passed." 

"  Heave  ahead  then." 

'"Have  you  got  a  doctor  you  can  lend  us?'  cries 
the  Dane,  Lord  Cochrane  standin'  ostentatious  an' 
leanin'  lazylike  over  the  rail  so  they  could  easy  see 
his  uniform. 

'"What  do  you  want  a  doctor  for?' 

'"We're  a  Danish  brig  from  Algiers,  an'  we've 
got  smallpox  aboard.' 

"  'H'ist  away,'  says  Lord  Cochrane  to  me  an'  Higgs 
at  that,  an'  the  next  minute  the  Danish  flag  was  broke 
out  at  the  gaff,  an'  the  yeller  flag  went  up  on  the  main. 


Old  Broadrlb  Spins  a  Yarn  115 

"'Smallpox!'  yelled  the  Spanish  officer.  'Back 
water,  hard,'  he  cried,  not  givin'  anyone  time  to  say 
no  more.  '  Stern  all,'  he  added.  When  he'd  got 
further  away,  he  sings  out,  '  Git  out  of  here  quick. 
You  can't  come  in  this  harbor.' 

"'Where'll  we  go  to?'  asked  the  Dane. 

" '  I  don't  care  where  you  go  so  long  as  you  don't 
come  here.' 

"'We've  got  to  go  somewheres,'  shouted  the  Dane 
back  at  him,  Cochrane  prompting  him  all  the  time. 
'  We'll  come  into  the  harbor ! ' 

"  But  the  leftenant  didn't  wait  no  longer.  He  rowed 
back  as  if  the  devil  was  after  him,  scrambled  up  the 
side  of  his  frigate,  an'  reported  to  his  cap'n.  Then, 
jest  for  devilment,  Lord  Cochrane  swung  our  main 
yard,  got  the  brig  before  the  wind,  an'  headed  in  to 
the  harbor.  That  convinced  'em  of  the  truth  of  what 
he  said.  The  frigate  acted  promptly.  She  fired  a  shot 
across  our  bows,  an'  then  we  put  up  the  helm  and  swung 
out  of  the  harbor,  Danish  flag  at  gaff  an'  yeller  flag 
still  flyin'  at  main.  Then  they  turned  about,  claps  on 
all  sail,  an'  beat  back  as  if  she  was  afraid  of  ketchin' 
it  from  us.  Well,  sir,  when  our  cap'n  stepped  out  of 
the  gangway  with  the  Dane,  the  whole  crew  bust  into 
a  wild  roar  of  laughter.  We  couldn't  help  it. 

"'What  the  blazes  are  you  laughin'  at?'  yelled  his 
lordship,  his  face  flushin'  until  it  was  almost  the  color 
of  his  hair. 

"  As  usual,  I  was  nearest  to  him,  an'  I  had  to  answer. 

'"We  was  jest  laughin'  at  how  you  fooled  them 
dumb  heads  of  Spaniards,  m'lord,'  says  I. 


Ii6  Waif-o-the-Sea 


' '  Oh,'  says  he,  '  I  thought  mebbe  you  was  laughin' 
at  me  in  this  uniform.' 

"With  that  he  took  a  long  step  aft  and  slit  his 
breeches  from  clew  to  earing,  they  was  that  tight  for 
him.  He  turned  around  quick  an'  faced  the  roarin' 
crew.  The  laughin'  stopped  as  quick  as  it  had  begun. 

"'Umph,'  said  his  lordship,  gravelike,  'joke's  over.' 

"With  that  he  struts  in  his  cabin,  and  we  waits  until 
he  is  safe  there  an'  then  we  busts  out  laughin'  agin." 

"That  certainly  was  a  good  trick,  Mate,"  said  Rice, 
from  his  position  at  the  wheel. 

"  Trick !  "  said  Broadrib,  meditatively.  "  Why  that 
man  was  chock-a-block  with  tricks.  I  remembers  once 
a  shore  party  of  us  was  holdin'  a  castle  a  year  or  two 
arter,  when  we'd  been  promoted  to  a  handy  frigate 
called  the  Pallas.  It  was  at  a  place  called  Rojas.  The 
French  was  assaultin'  it.  The  fortunes  of  war  had 
changed  an'  we  was  now  friends  with  the  Spaniards 
and  fightin'  with  'em  instead  of  agin  'em.  They'd  have 
give  up  the  castle  long  since,  but  Lord  Cochrane,  he 
said  he'd  hold  it  an'  he  was  doin'  it  too.  They  had 
give  him  this  frigate  after  he  had  captured  the  Gamo, 
an'  we  landed  some  broadside  guns  an'  was  defendin' 
the  place  in  true  seamanlike  fashion,  but  the  French 
had  bigger  guns  than  we  had  an'  more  of  'em,  an' 
finally  they  put  a  hole  in  our  broadside.  The  place 
where  they  had  knocked  out  the  wall  was  right  over 
the  floor  which  covered  the  hold,  the  cellar,  I  think 
they  called  it,  an'  his  lordship  had  us  chop  away  the 
floor.  Then  we  took  some  long  planks  and  greased 
'em  an'  we  leaned  'em  up  against  the  hole  that  had 


Old  Broadrib  Spins  a  Yarn  117 

been  made  in  our  broadside  wall,  so  that  they  lead 
from  the  breach  to  the  cellar,  which  was  a  stout  place 
dug  out  of  rock,  an'  there  wasn't  no  way  out  of  it 
'cept  a  ladder,  which  we  barricaded  an'  covered  with 
a  bulkhead  of  heavy  timber.  We'd  have  plugged  up 
the  hole  they  had  made  in  our  broadside  only  we  wasn't 
any  of  us  stone  masons.  At  any  rate,  one  night  the 
French  came  chargin'  up  in  spite  of  all  we  could  do, 
an'  dumb  through  that  hole,  yellin'  like  mad,  only  to 
strike  them  planks  which  led  down  almost  like  the 
shrouds  of  a  ship's  masts.  They  had  been  well  slushed, 
too,  an'  they  was  as  slippery  as  ice.  I  never  will  forget 
it.  We  let  'em  come.  We  didn't  even  fire  on  'em.  His 
lordship  said  it  would  be  a  pity  to  kill  'em.  We'd  git 
'em  anyway.  They  jest  slid  down  them  planks  as  soon 
as  they  boarded  us,  an'  afore  they  knowed  it  there  was 
about  fifty  of  'em  below  in  the  cellar,  an'  there  they 
stayed !  They  couldn't  git  out  neither." 

"Well,  what  happened  then?"  asked  Rey,  amid  a 
general  burst  of  laughter. 

"  They  brought  up  more  troops  an'  knocked  more 
holes  in  the  tower  with  their  guns,  an'  his  lordship 
decided  we  had  better  git  back  to  our  ship,  so  we  all 
filed  out,  chargin'  the  French  that  was  between  us  an' 
the  beach  in  a  seamanlike  manner,  an'  cleared  'em  away. 
Then  we  made  for  the  boats  which  the  ship  had  sent 
off,  havin'  been  signaled  to  afore.  I  remembers  I  was 
one  of  the  fust  to  reach  the  boats  an'  Lord  Cochrane 
was  at  the  other  end  of  the  colyum,  which  was  most 
proper,  him  bein'  the  cap'n,  an'  me  nothin'  but  a 
bo's'n's  mate.  He  had  a  little  midshipman  with  him, 


Il8  Waif-o-the-Sea 


named  Marryatt.1  We  was  runnin'  like  mad.  We 
was  so  tired  of  bein'  cooped  up  in  a  stone  house  that 
we  was  glad  to  be  in  the  air  agin,  an'  layin'  a  course 
for  our  ship.  But  m'lord  was  walkin'  calm  an'  stately. 
He  was  too  proud  to  run,  an'  the  marines  that  had  been 
sent  off  from  the  ship  was  draw'd  up  on  the  shore 
blazin'  away  at  the  Frenchies  who  was  crowdin'  arter 
our  men,  but  not  comin'  too  close.  They  was  all  firin' 
like  mad,  too.  Mr.  Marryatt,  who  was  a  great  favor 
ite  with  everybody  on  board,  told  the  warrant  officers 
in  the  steerage  that  night  what  happened,  an',  of  course, 
it  leaked  out  all  over  the  ship.  It  seems  that  he  was 
Cap'n  Cochrane's  pusonal  aide  an',  in  course,  he  had 
to  stay  by  him.  But  as  the  firin'  got  so  hot,  he  finally 
touches  his  cap  an'  he  says: 

" '  Please,  sir,  I'm  only  a  midshipman.  While  a 
cap'n,  of  course,  can't  run,  a  boy  kin,  an'  if  you  don't 
mind,  sir,  an'  have  nothin'  special  for  me  to  do,  I'll 
cut  away  an'  join  the  men  at  the  boats.' 

"'Ah,'  says  the  cap'n,  smilin'  down  at  the  lad,  'are 
you  there,  Mr.  Marryatt?' 

"'Yes,  sir,  which  I  don't  want  to  be,'  answers  the 
boy. 

" '  Mr.  Marryatt,'  says  the  cap'n,  cool  enough  in 
spite  of  the  bullets  skinnin'  about  'em,  '  I  am,  as  you 
say,  the  cap'n  of  the  ship.  My  life  is  of  great  impor 
tance  to  the  ship  an'  the  crew.  If  I  was  killed  it  would 
be  difficult  to  replace  me  at  present.  You,  sir,  on  the 
contrary,  are  only  a  midshipman  an'  are  of  no  impor 
tance  whatsoever.  If  you  was  shot,  I  could  replace 

1  Afterwards  the  famous  Captain  Marryatt,  author  of  many  inter 
esting  stories  of  the  sea. 


Old  Broadrib  Spins  a  Yarn  119 

you  with  a  hundred  others.  Therefore,  you  will  not 
only  not  run  to  the  boats  with  the  rest,  but  you  will 
take  your  position  directly  behind  me  to  pertect  me 
from  any  chance  shot  an'  you  may  feel  greatly  honored 
by  the  responsibility  thus  thrust  upon  you.' ' 

The  listening  men  burst  into  a  perfect  roar  of 
laughter  at  this. 

"  And  what  did  he  do  ?  "  asked  Captain  Clough  when 
he  could  get  his  breath. 

"What  could  he  do,  sir?  He  got  behind  the  cap'n, 
accordin'  to  order,  an'  they  marched  down  the  beach  as 
solemn  as  if  they  was  attendin'  the  drorin'  room  of  the 
king.  Indeed,  it  seemed  to  us  who  was  awatchin'  of 
'em  that  we  never  seed  his  lordship  walkin'  so  slow. 
He  was  jest  givin'  Mr.  Marryatt  a  lesson,  you  see. 
Mr.  Marryatt  was  a  little  feller  an'  didn't  come  much 
higher  than  his  lordship's  belt,  so  that  he  weren't  of 
much  use  as  a  pertection  noway.  It  seemed  to  us  'bout 
an  hour  afore  them  two  got  to  the  boats,  an'  I  never 
seed  a  reefer  so  relieved  as  that  one  was  as  he  tumbled 
into  the  first  one.  The  bullets  was  spinnin'  around  all 
of  us,  but  Lord  Cochrane  was  just  bustin'  with  laughter 
as  we  rowed  off  to  the  ship.  Every  once  and  a  while 
he  would  address  that  little  youngster  as  '  My  per- 
tector,'  which  made  him  turn  as  red  as  a  beet." 

''You  said  you  captured  the  Gamo,  that  Spanish 
frigate,"  asked  Clough. 

"Yes,  sir,  we  did." 

"  Tell  us  about  that." 

"Gladly,  sir,"  answered  Broadrib,  "but  it  is  a  long 
yarn,  sir,  an'  perhaps " 


I2O  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"Well,  perhaps  we  had  better  have  it  some  other 
night,"  said  the  young  captain. 

He  hauled  out  his  watch  again,  rose  up,  knocked  the 
ashes  out  of  his  pipe,  stretched  himself. 

"  It  will  soon  be  eight  bells,"  he  said.  "  Time  to  set 
the  watch.  Er,  Rey,"  he  began  with  elaborate  care 
lessness  as  the  group  broke  up,  "  don't  you  want  to 
stand  part  of  my  watch  with  me?" 

"  Not  tonight,  sir,"  answered  the  girl  promptly,  with 
so  impudent  an  air  that  Clough  wanted  to  shake  her. 
"  I'm  quite  tired  and  as  you've  not  put  me  in  either 
watch  I  think  I'll  turn  in  early." 

Her  manner  was  intensely  provoking.  She  would 
never  have  dared  to  answer  so  if  the  others  had  been 
within  earshot,  of  course. 

"But  if  I  order  you  to  stand  the  watch  with  me?" 
said  the  captain,  savagely. 

"Oh,  of  course,  if  you  order  me  —  if  you  want  to 
punish  me " 

"  Punish  you !  Damn  it,  go  below,  sir,  Miss,  I 
mean,"  roared  Clough. 

"Aye,  aye,  sir.  According  to  order,"  replied  the 
other,  going  aft  whistling.  She  whistled  very  well  for 
a  girl,  too.  Eight  bells  striking,  Clough  seized  the 
wheel  in  exasperation,  vowing  that  he  had  never  met 
so  disagreeable  a  person  in  his  life. 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE   HARPOONER   HELPS  OUT 

BUT  if  Audrey  did  not  seem  disposed  to  share  the 
captain's  watch  he  was  not  left  to  stand  it  alone 
because  of  that.    For  old  Broadrib  presently  came  from 
the    cabin,    pipe   in   hand.      The    veteran   harpooner 
lounged  forward  until  he  came  abreast  the  wheel. 

"A  fine  night,  Cap'n  Clough,"  he  observed,  after  a 
meditative  glance  up  to  windward,  and  a  long  luxurious 
draw  at  his  pipe. 

"Aye,  so  it  is.  The  breeze  holds  well.  We're  mak 
ing  better  way  of  it,"  answered  Clough. 

"At  this  rate  'twon't  be  long  afore  we  makes  a 
land-fall  or  raises  the  lights  of  Valparaiso,"  assented 
the  sailor.  He  stepped  across  the  deck,  leaned  over  the 
weather  rail  and  cast  a  glance  alongside.  "All  of  six 
knots,  I'd  say,  sir,"  he  added. 

"That  or  better.  She  steers  less  easily,  too," 
answered  the  other,  giving  the  Sharon  an  extra  spoke 
or  two  of  weather  helm.  "  If  we  could  only  set  more 
sail  it  would  shove  her  along  at  a  better  rate.  I  confess 
I'll  feel  easier  when  the  anchor's  down." 

"An'  me  too,  sir.  But  we're  better  off  with  no  more 
spread  of  canvas,  I  takes  it.  What's  already  drorin' 
would  be  a  heavy  job  for  four  men  an'  a  boy  to  handle 
should  it  come  in  to  blow  agin." 

xai 


122  Waif-o-the-Sea 


''Yes,  you're  right,  of  course.  But  why  don't  you 
turn  in?" 

"Ain't  sleepy,  sir.  I'll  go  to  my  bunk  presently,"  he 
replied,  staring  up  to  windward. 

"  Suit  yourself,  Broadrib." 

"  Thankee,  sir.  Meanwhile,  I'll  go  for'ard  an'  have 
a  bit  of  a  gam  with  Rice,  sir." 

The  old  man  rolled  forward  along  the  waist  in  true 
seaman's  fashion  and  presently  brought  up  on  the  top 
gallant  forecastle.  The  sound  of  his  voice  was  lost  in 
the  sing  of  the  wind  through  the  top-hamper,  and  the 
swash  of  the  waves  ahead  and  alongside,  as  the  good 
ship  butted  into  them. 

Captain  Clough  resumed  his  interrupted  reverie  only 
to  have  it  broken  once  more,  but  not  until  perhaps  half 
an  hour  had  passed. 

Audrey  had  repented  herself  of  her  capriciousness. 
Having  every  night  in,  standing  no  watch,  she  did  not 
require  every  available  moment  of  the  night  for  her 
rest  and  sleep.  In  pity  for  her  lover  and  to  delight 
herself,  perhaps  to  justify  her  insubordination  of  the 
past  few  days  by  emphasizing  the  fact  that  she  was  girl 
and  not  boy,  she  had  once  more  donned  her  only  dress, 
and  suddenly  appeared  beside  him. 

Now,  the  young  officer  was  so  delighted  to  see  her, 
and  in  that  guise,  that,  for  the  moment,  he  quite  forgot 
that  Broadrib  was,  as  it  were,  loose  upon  the  deck  and 
might  appear  at  any  moment.  Ready  enough  with 
speech  on  occasion,  Captain  Clough  could  only  stare 
at  her  for  the  moment 

"Oh  dear,"  she  began,  in  mock  dismay,  "you  are 


The  Harpooner  Helps  Out  123 

the  quietest  man  with  a  woman !  I  thought  you'd  be  so 
glad  to  see  me  you'd " 

"  I  am.  I  will,"  interrupted  the  man  eagerly,  finding 
voice  at  last. 

"  That's  better.  I  was  so  sorry  for  you.  You  looked 
so  sad  when  I  disobeyed  you  that  I  —  do  you  like 
me  again  in  this  dress?"  she  explained  and  questioned 
in  a  breath. 

"  Of  course." 

"As  much  as  before?" 

"More." 

"And  am  I  forgiven?" 

''  You  will  be  if  you — "  The  young  captain  paused. 
He  was  going  to  do  a  bolder  thing,  at  least  so  it 
appeared  to  him,  than  he  had  ever  done  before,  not 
even  when  he  had  boarded  the  Sharon.  He  hesitated, 
however,  and  as  usual  it  was  the  woman  who  could  not 
stand  the  pause. 

"Yes,  if?"  she  quoted. 

"  If  you  will —  kiss  me,  as  you  did  the  other  night," 
he  forced  himself  to  reply,  at  the  same  time  stretching 
out  his  free  arm  to  catch  her. 

She  easily  evaded  him  and  she  was  sailor  enough  to 
know  that  in  such  a  breeze  as  then  prevailed  he  did  not 
dare  let  go  the  wheel.  So  she  did  not  move  very  far 
away,  and  he  was  quick  to  notice  that  she  did  not  seem 
displeased  —  rather  the  reverse. 

Now  these  were  pre-Victorian  times  and,  according 
to  the  fictional  chronicles  of  the  period,  the  lovely  and 
artless  female  —  for  so  they  would  have  described 
her  —  would  never  have  suffered  such  bold  and  ardent 


124  Waif-o-the-Sea 


wooing  without  fainting  away!  Indeed,  by  such  stand 
ards  she  ought  to  have  died  rather  than  to  have  put 
herself  in  such  a  position  —  a  woman,  young,  unmar 
ried,  unchaperoned,  alone  on  a  ship  filled  with  men ! 
Horrors!  Shades  of  Fanny  Burney  and  Fenimore 
Cooper!  It  was  unthinkable !  Yet  there  she  was. 

Truth  to  tell,  Audrey  liked  the  situation.  She  en 
joyed  the  horror.  She  thrilled  to  the  opportunity 
presented  to  her.  She  reveled  in  the  occurrence.  She 
had  no  mind  for  flight.  She  blushed,  doubtless,  but  the 
night  hid  the  betraying  color  in  her  cheeks  and  her 
blushes  did  not  matter.  So  many  things  are  permissible 
in  the  half  light  that  cannot  be  managed  in  the  broad 
day,  fortunately. 

The  new  moon  was  already  a-sky,  light  from  it,  faint 
yet  greater  than  that  cast  by  the  stars,  illumined  softly 
and  mysteriously  her  graceful,  charming  figure.  If 
she  stood  with  her  slippered  feet  somewhat  wide  apart 
and  her  arms  akimbo,  balancing  to  the  roll  of  the  ship 
like  a  true  sailor,  the  young  captain  saw  naught  amiss 
in  that.  It  was  a  proper  position  to  assume  upon  an 
uneasy  ship,  for  man  or  woman. 

"Why  should  I  kiss  you  —  again?"  she  breathed 
softly. 

"Because  I  —  I — "  he  faltered. 

"Well?"  she  helped  him  on. 

"Because  I  love  you,  Miss  —  Rey  —  Audrey,"  he 
said  at  last. 

"That's  a  reason  for  you  to  kiss  me,  perhaps,  but 
not  for  me  to — "  was  her  counter. 

"  Because  you  love  me,  then,"  he  interposed  with 


The  Harpooner  Helps  Out  125 

growing  assurance,  now  quite  carried  away  by  his  own 
courage. 

He  had  made  the  plunge  and,  so  far  as  he  could  see, 
with  good  hope  for  himself.  Indeed,  Audrey  had 
moved  a  little  nearer  to  him  at  the  thrilling  declaration 
of  a  monent  ago.  It  was  the  first  time  anybody  had 
ever  said  such  things  to  her. 

She  was  not  quite  ready  to  surrender,  however. 
Temporizing  was  such  a  delicious  pastime  it  seemed; 
anticipation  appeared  to  hold  joys  of  its  own  of  which 
she  had  not  dreamed.  What  realization  might  be  not 
even  that  dainty  and  hasty  caress  she  had  volunteered 
to  bestow  upon  him  before  could  tell  her. 

"But  do  I  love  you?"  she  asked,  meditatively,  as  if 
discussing  an  entirely  impersonal  question. 

"Don't  you?  O  Audrey!"  he  began  in  a  sudden 
and  very  real  alarm. 

And  then  it  happened.  An  unexpected  roll  of  the 
ship  or  an  involuntary  movement  of  the  girl  toward 
the  man,  or  her  seizure  by  his  outreached  arm,  or  all 
three,  which  was  more  probable,  and  she  found  herself 
in  his  arms,  or  arm,  rather,  since  he  did  not  even  then 
let  go  the  wheel. 

One  arm  was  sufficient,  however,  since  she  resisted 
not.  For  he  drew  her  to  him.  The  beat  of  heart  met 
the  beat  of  heart.  The  moonlight  fell  faintly  upon  her 
face,  slightly  upturned  —  she  had  pity  upon  him,  being 
but  one-armed  for  the  moment  he  had  to  depend  upon 
her  —  and  then  he  kissed  her. 

Quite  a  different  thing,  this  caress,  from  that  hasty 
touch  of  lips  upon  the  memory  of  which  they  both  had 


1 26  Waif-o-the-Sea 


lived  until  that  more  halcyon  hour.  And  unrestricted 
and  unrestrained,  for  Audrey  saw  no  reason  for  with 
drawal  or  denial,  he  kissed  her  again  and  again,  eyes, 
lips,  and  finally  her  bended  head.  He  whispered  words, 
incoherent,  broken,  meaningless  to  anyone  but  she  in 
that  hallowed  ocean  night,  when  love  came  in  all  its 
splendor  and  passion  to  them  both  in  the  South  Pacific 
Seas. 

Pity  that  such  things  last  so  short  a  time,  that  such 
moments  of  rapture  should  be  so  fleeting,  that  when 
heart  would  fain  speak  to  heart  uninterruptedly  some 
discordant  voice  must  dispel  the  joy. 

"My  God!  Cap'n  Clough,  sir,"  burst  out  the  deep, 
gruff  tones  of  a  thoroughly  shocked  and  greatly  scan 
dalized  old  seaman.  "Wot  in  'ell's  the  meanin'  of 
this?  An'  who  in  the  name  of  God  is  this  bloody 
feemale?" 

Broadrib,  without  the  slightest  intention  of  surprising 
his  young  commander,  and  certainly  with  no  expecta 
tion  of  seeing  the  picture  now  presented  to  him,  having 
finished  his  pipe  and  chat  with  Rice  had  rolled  aft  with 
the  quiet  catlike  tread  of  the  true  old  salt,  to  exchange  a 
word  or  two  with  his  captain  in  passing  and  then  to  turn 
in  for  the  balance  of  the  watch. 

At  the  first  word  of  the  harpooner  Audrey  gave 
forth  a  little  scream  and  strove  to  run.  But  Clough 
held  her  close. 

"  Come  here,  Broadrib,"  he  said,  and  not  until  the 
bewildered  and  astonished  sailor  was  close  at  hand  did 
the  captain  release  the  girl. 

"Take  a  near  look  at  the  lady,  Broadrib,"  he  began 


The  Harpooner  Helps  Out  127 

as  the  other  stopped  and  stared.  "  Don't  you  recognize 
her?" 

"  May  I  be  keel  hauled  if  'tain't  the  lad !  Youngster, 
what  in  'ell  do  you  mean  by  this  maskeradin'  like  a  gal? 
An'  you  a  boy,  kissin'  the  cap'nl"  bursts  out  the  thor 
oughly  aroused  old  seaman. 

"But  I'm  not  a  boy,  Mr.  Broadrib,"  protested 
Audrey,  swiftly. 

"Ain't  you  young  Rey  McRae,  Cap'n  Norris' 
nevvy?" 


'Yes  and  no,  I 


"Am  I  awake  or  dreamin'?  How  can  you  be  both 
one  an'  t'other?" 

"I'll  explain,"  said  Captain  Clough.  "This  is  Miss 
Audrey  McRae,  whom  you  know  as  Rey,  the  ship's 
boy,  only  she's  a  woman." 

"An'  allus  has  been?"  asked  the  veteran,  stub 
bornly. 

"Always,"  answered  Audrey  herself,  smiling  up  at 
Broadrib.  "  It's  this  way.  I'm  really  Captain  Norris' 
niece.  He  shipped  me  as  a  boy  because  a  girl  on  ship 
board,  you  know " 

"Aye,  that  I  do,  a  whaler  full  of  rough  men  ain't  no 
proper  place  for  a  young  and  lovely  feemale  woman 
like  you  if  so  be  you  ain't  playin'  no  tricks  on  an  old 
man." 

"  I'm  not.  Captain  Norris  knew  that  as  well  as  you. 
The  only  way  he  could  take  me  with  him  was  as  a  boy." 

"  I  see.  How  long  have  you  knowed  this  Cap'n 
Clough?" 

"  Only  since  the  night  of  the  mutiny." 


128  Walf-o-the-Sea 


"  Didn't  I  make  a  pretty  good  boy  ?  "  asked  Audrey. 

"  None  better,  Missy,"  was  the  hearty  answer  of  the 
harpooner,  aan'  yet  you  makes  a  better  girl,  I  do 
believe.  Sink  me  if  I  don't" 

"I  agree  with  you,  Broadrib,  and  I  don't  mind  tell 
ing  you  that  Miss  McRae  is  going  to  be  my  wife  as 
soon  as  we  fall  in  with  a  chaplain  or  a  minister  to  splice 
us,"  said  Clough,  decidedly. 

"Pretty  quick  work,  ain't  it,  sir?"  asked  the  old 
man,  amazed  at  this  further  turn  of  the  affair. 

"  I  never  said  so,"  cried  out  the  girl. 

"But  ain't  it  true,  Rey,  Miss,  I  mean?  Oh  good 
Lord!" 

"  Call  me  Rey,  just  as  you  did  before,  Mr. 
Broadrib." 

"It  can't  be  done,  Miss." 

"  You  haven't  answered  his  question,  Audrey,"  urged 
the  captain. 

'  'Tain't  none  of  my  business,  Miss,  in  course,"  began 
the  sailor  after  a  pause,  which  for  the  nonce  Audrey 
did  not  seem  inclined  to  break,  "but  if  you  ain't  you'd 
ought  to  be  arter  wot  I  seen  a  moment  since." 

"  I  am.  We  are,"  said  Audrey,  promptly,  where 
upon  the  captain,  undeterred  by  the  presence  of  the 
sailor,  kissed  her  again. 

"That's  as  it  should  be,"  observed  Broadrib.  "I 
makes  no  doubt  your  uncle  would  have  approved,  too, 
for  a  finer  young  man,  an'  a  primer  officer,  I  ain't  never 
sailed  under,  not  even  Lord  Cochrane  hisself.  An'  I 
can't  say  no  more  than  that,  Miss  an'  Sir." 

And  as  this  sounded  like  a  benediction,  the  old  man 


The  Harpooner  Helps  Out  129 

rolled  aft,  leaving  the  lovers  to  a  watch  full  of  happi 
ness  together. 

"  That  there  boy  a  feemale !  "  he  muttered.  "  Now 
there'll  be  the  devil  to  pay  aboard  ship  afore  we  makes 
a  landfall,"  he  added  under  his  breath  as  he  entered 
the  cabin,  without  in  the  least  meaning  to  reflect  unpleas 
antly  on  anybody  and  not  realizing  that  he  spoke  as  a 
prophet. 

In  the  morning  Rice  and  Storey  were  told  the  great 
secret.  Their  astonishment  was  ludicrous.  They  could 
not  credit  the  tale  until  Audrey  put  on  the  dress  she 
had  worn  and  appeared  among  them  as  a  woman  indeed. 
Then  they  saw  and  believed. 

Thenceforward  Audrey  discarded  her  boy's  uniform 
and  habitually  wore  her  proper  clothes.  She  started 
making  some  others  to  replenish  her  wardrobe,  not 
having  lost  her  skill  with  the  needle  by  her  long  mas 
querade.  Rice  and  Storey  were  good  men  and  true. 
They  easily  accommodated  themselves  to  the  new 
demands  of  the  situation,  and  they  treated  the  young 
woman  with  all  the  respect  due  to  her  station  and  to 
the  fact  that  she  was  their  admired  young  captain's 
promised  wife. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  WRECK  OF  THE  SAN  MARTIN 

BROADRIB'S  promised  yarn  of  the  capture  of  the 
Gamo  was  not  told  the  next  night.  For  that  day 
a  change  had  come  over  the  condition  of  the  Sharon 
and  her  little  crew,  and  one  not  altogether  for  the 
better.  About  one  bell  in  the  first  dog  watch,  which 
would  be  half  after  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Rice, 
aloft  on  the  improvised  fore  topsail  yard  for  a  final 
survey  of  the  ocean  before  night  fell,  was  astonished 
when  into  the  field  of  vision  of  the  ship's  glass  he  car 
ried  swept  the  hull  of  a  vessel. 

"  Sail  ho !  "  he  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  lungs. 

All  hands  were  on  deck  busied  with  various  tasks, 
except  Storey,  whose  turn  it  was  to  do  the  cooking, 
and  even  he  came  running  from  the  galley  as  he  heard 
the  cry. 

"Where  away?"  called  out  Clough  in  reply. 

"  Dead  ahead,  sir." 

Old  Broadrib,  on  the  forecastle,  shaded  his  eyes 
and  stared  over  the  bows,  but  could  see  nothing. 

"Can  you  make  it  out?"  asked  the  captain. 

"Yes,  sir.  It's  a  dismasted  ship,"  answered  Rice. 
"At  least  she's  got  the  stump  of  a  mast  standing  aft 
with  some  kind  of  a  flag  flying  from  it." 

"You  say  she's  dead  ahead?" 

130 


The  Wreck  of  the  San  Martin  131 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Very  well,"  cried  Clough.  "You  can  lay  down 
from  aloft." 

In  his  excitement  and  hurry,  Rice  came  sliding  down 
one  of  the  back-stays,  disdaining  the  standing  rigging, 
but  he  could  add  nothing  to  his  previous  account. 

"Could  you  see  it  with  the  naked  eye?" 

"Just  barely  make  it  out,  sir,  after  I  had  located  it 
through  the  glass." 

"Broadrib." 

"Sir?" 

"  Keep  a  sharp  lookout  for'ard  and  report  as  soon 
as  you  catch  sight  of  the  wreck." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir." 

There  was  nothing  to  be  done,  of  course,  but  keep 
on.  There  was  little  they  could  have  done  anyway, 
but  nothing  was  needed  since  the  wreck  was  dead 
ahead  of  them.  The  ship  was  carrying  all  the  sail 
they  could  possibly  set  upon  her.  She  moved  along 
fairly  rapidly,  considering  the  diminished  canvas 
spread,  before  the  brisk  northeast  trade,  through  the 
rather  heavy  sea  running,  and  in  half  an  hour  old  Broad- 
rib  hailed  from  the  forecastle. 

"  I  can  make  her  out  now,  sir,"  he  said. 

Rice  took  the  helm.  Captain  Clough  seized  the 
glass  and,  followed  by  Audrey,  ran  along  the  gangway 
to  the  forecastle,  climbed  up  on  the  knightheads  and 
focussed  the  telescope  on  the  vessel,  which  he  could  just 
see  dimly  in  the  growing  dusk.  She  was,  he  at  once 
discovered,  the  wreck  of  a  large  brig.  She  had  been 
battered  up  severely  in  some  storm.  A  splintered  fore- 


132  Walf-o-the-Sea 


mast  rose  a  few  feet  above  the  deck.  Her  head  booms 
were  gone,  her  rails,  and  bulwarks  smashed,  her  boat 
davits  were  empty,  but  the  stump  of  her  main  mast, 
which  had  carried  away  just  below  the  top,  was  still 
standing,  and  from  it  a  flag  fluttered.  She  was  still  too 
far  off  for  him  easily  to  make  out  the  flag,  but  after 
staring  hard  at  it  for  a  while  through  the  glass  Clough 
decided  it  was  the  red,  white,  and  blue  flag  of  the  new 
Republic  of  Chile  with  its  single  star.  There  was  neither 
time  nor  necessity  for  much  speculation,  for  at  the  rate 
the  ship  was  moving  toward  the  wreck,  which  lay  roll 
ing  helplessly  in  the  trough  of  the  seas,  they  would 
soon  be  alongside.  Captain  Clough  consulted  with  the 
harpooner. 

"  It'll  be  almost  more  than  we  can  do  to  back  our 
main  yard  and  heave  the  ship  to,"  he  said  gloomily  to 
the  big  seaman. 

"We  can't  never  do  it  at  all  unless  we  takes  that 
jury  main  tops'l  off  of  her.  Mebbe  we  won't  have  to. 
Mebbe  there  ain't  nobody  aboard  the  wreck,"  replied 
the  other. 

"  Take  a  look  yourself,"  said  Captain  Clough,  hand 
ing  him  the  glass. 

The  old  man  focussed  it  rapidly  and  viewed  the 
wreck  long  and  carefully.  He  shut  the  glass  to  with 
a  snap  and  handed  it  back. 

"  We've  got  to  git  that  yard  around  somehow,  sir," 
he  said  decidedly.  "There  must  be  a  score  or  more  of 
human  bein's  on  her  decks.  An'  by  her  looks  she  won't 
last  long." 

"Aye,  we  must,"  said  Captain  Clough.     "  Rey,"  he 


The  Wreck  of  the  San  Martin  133 

added  abruptly,  quite  forgetting  when  any  emergency 
arose  that  she  was  no  longer  a  boy. 

"Yes,  sir?"  was  the  ready  answer. 

"  Go  aft  and  take  the  wheel.  Keep  her  just  as  she 
is  until  I  sing  out,  then  ease  her  helm  down.  Tell  Rice 
and  Storey  to  come  for'ard.  We'll  settle  away  the 
halliards  and  clew  up  our  main  tops'l,  pass  a  furling 
line  around  it  and  let  her  hang.  I  guess  she'll  stand 
that,  Broadrib?" 

"  I  think  she  will,  sir." 

"Then  all  hands  will  get  hold  of  the  main  brace 
and  when  the  time  comes  we'll  heave  her  to." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  Rey  as  Clough  turned  to 
her  again,  lifting  her  skirts,  which,  truth  to  tell,  she 
often  found  embarrassing  after  the  greater  freedom 
of  trousers,  to  which  she  had  become  accustomed, 
and  running  aft  to  deliver  the  message  and  take 
the  wheel. 

Rice  and  Storey  sprang  aloft  while  Broadrib  slacked 
off  the  improvised  tops'l  halliards.  Then  he  and  the 
captain  clewed  the  sail  up  and  the  yard  down.  Next 
they  clapped  a  big  watch-tackle  on  the  weather-main 
brace  and  when  the  two  seamen  reached  the  deck  again 
the  main  sheet  and  lee  braces  were  slacked  off,  the  yard 
swung  and  the  tack  boarded. 

Of  necessity  they  had  to  work  slowly  because  they 
were  so  short-handed,  but  by  the  time  they  were  well 
abreast  of  the  brig  the  Sharon  was  fairly  hove  to  and 
her  progress  stopped.  They  could  see  the  wreck  plainly 
now.  Her  decks,  which  were  almost  awash,  were 
crowded  with  excited  men,  who  stretched  out  appealing 


134  Waif-o-the-Sea 


hands  to  the  Sharon  and  called  piteously  in  Spanish  for 
help.  There  must  have  been  fifty  of  them.  Captain 
Clough  did  not  view  the  prospect  altogether  cheerfully. 
Fifty  Chileans  on  the  decks  of  the  Sharon  would  crowd 
her  fearfully,  especially  as  every  available  space  below 
was  filled  with  oil  casks.  Nor  did  he  entirely  trust  the 
South  Americans.  Still,  the  men  on  the  brig  were  in  a 
desperate  condition.  Their  vessel  itself  was  a  com 
plete  wreck.  She  sat  low  in  the  water  and  from  the 
sluggishness  of  her  lift  to  the  seas  she  was  already  half 
full  and  probably  leaking  like  a  sieve.  Humanity  de 
manded  that  he  receive  them  aboard  the  whaler. 

Having  got  the  ship  hove  to,  Clough  leaped  up  on 
the  lee  rail  and  hailed. 

"Brig  ahoy!"  he  shouted. 

Instantly  from  the  brig  there  arose  such  a  confused 
clatter,  such  a  medley  of  shouts  and  cries,  as  to  be  utterly 
unintelligible.  The  American  looked  around  at  his 
own  little  band  of  tried  and  true  followers  in  deep  dis 
gust  at  the  scene  on  the  other  vessel. 

"Did  you  ever  hear  anything  like  that?"  he  ex 
claimed.  Then  he  hollowed  his  hands  trumpetwise  and 
shouted:  "  Does  anybody  aboard  you  speak  English?" 

One  man,  an  officer  evidently  by  his  dress,  de 
tached  himself  from  the  crowd  on  the  deck  of  the  brig, 
approached  the  broken  rail,  leaped  up  on  it,  steadied 
there  by  others  who  stood  around  him,  and  answered. 

"  I  spik  a  leetle,"  he  shouted,  stilling  the  tumult  on 
the  deck  of  the  brig  with  his  hand. 

"What  brig  is  that?" 

"It  is  a  buque  de  guerra  —  a  ship  of  war  —  Senor, 


The  Wreck  of  the  San  Martin  135 

de  la  Republica  de  Chile.  We  are  naufraaio,  what  you 
call  him,  wreck?  We  have  nothing  to  eat.  No  water, 
nada,  nada,  nada!"  he  went  on  in  his  broken  Spanish- 
English,  "  Comprende,  Senorf  Nothing." 

"Very  good,"  answered  Clough,  meaning  that  he 
understood.  "  I'll  take  you  aboard.  Have  you  a  boat 
left?" 

"Not  one,"  shouted  the  man.  "All  lost.  For  el 
amor  de  Dios,  Sehor,  ayudenos  —  help  us." 

Captain  Clough  nodded.  Every  boat  on  the  Sharon 
had  been  lost  at  sea  or  smashed  by  the  gale  except  a 
small  dingey  that  hung  astern. 

"Broadrib,"  he  said,  "you  and  Rice  take  the  dingey 
and  bring  the  captain  of  that  brig  and  that  English 
speaking  person  off  her." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  answered  Broadrib,  touching  his  cap 
and  running  aft,  followed  by  the  two  men. 

"  Rey,  you  and  I  will  keep  ship."  Captain  Clough 
then  turned  toward  the  brig  again  and  cried  out, 
"  We've  lost  all  our  boats  but  one.  We're  sending 
it  off  to  bring  the  captain  of  the  brig  and  anybody  who 
can  speak  English  aboard.  You  understand?" 

"Si,  sif  Sehor,"  shouted  the  Spaniard. 

He  turned  and  evidently  translated  Clough's  con 
versation,  for  a  perfect  tempest  of  yells  and  cries,  not 
apparently  intended  to  express  gratitude,  broke  from 
the  panic-stricken  men  on  the  wrecked  brig.  Indeed, 
their  plight  was  a  desperate  one.  The  Americans 
doubted  if  the  brig  would  float  four  hours.  The  Chil 
eans  had  not  a  boat  and  apparently  no  means  of  making 
rafts.  Unless  the  Sharon  had  arrived  when  she  did 


136  Waif-o-the-Sea 


their  certain  fate  would  have  been  a  watery  grave  when 
the  brig  foundered. 

Now,  Rey,  by  the  young  captain's  explicit  order,  had 
remained  at  the  wheel,  fortunately.  The  high  bulwarks 
along  the  quarter  deck  of  the  whaler  completely  hid  her 
from  the  observation  of  the  men  aboard  the  wreck, 
especially  as  the  latter  had  lost  all  her  top-hamper  and 
lay  so  low  in  the  water.  Clough  now  turned  to  her. 

"Audrey,"  he  said,  emphatically,  "go  to  your  cabin 
and  put  on  your  boy's  rig.  Men,  you  understand,  no 
mention  of  Miss  McRae's  sex  to  anyone.  Treat  her 
just  like  the  boy  you  thought  her.  I  would  not  trust 
those  fellows  with  a  woman  further  than  I  could  see 
them." 

"  I  understand,"  said  Audrey,  a  little  uneasily,  for 
this  was  the  first  time  she  had  felt  any  apprehension 
on  the  score  of  sex. 

Broadrib  answered  for  the  rest  as  she  ran  aft: 

"We  knows,  sir.  They  shan't  larn  the  truth  from 
us  an'  they  shan't  no  harm  come  to  the  little  lady  while 
we're  alive,  neither." 

The  captain,  highly  approving  these  sentiments,  now 
summoned  Storey  from  the  galley  to  take  the  wheel, 
whereupon  Audrey  at  once  ran  to  her  cabin  and  shifted 
nervously  into  her  former  jaunty  rig.  It  was  too  bad, 
she  thought,  just  as  she  had  begun  to  get  used  to  being 
a  girl  she  had  to  turn  herself  back  into  a  boy  again. 

Working  smartly  meanwhile,  Broadrib  and  Rice 
lowered  the  dingey,  manned  the  oars  and  rowed  toward 
the  other  ship. 

"  Mr.  Broadrib,"  shouted  the  captain  as  the  dingey 


The  Wreck  of  the  San  Martin  137 

rounded  the  stern  of  the  Sharon  and  came  into  view 
between  the  two  vessels. 

"Sir?" 

"  Don't  go  too  near  that  brig.  From  the  looks  of 
those  fellows  they  would  all  try  to  get  in  the  boat 
at  once  and  swamp  you.  Just  lay  off  a  convenient  dis 
tance.  You  understand?" 

"Yes,  sir.    Give  way,  Rice." 

Again  Captain  Clough  hailed  the  brig. 

"  I  have  told  my  boat  not  to  board  you.  Get  your 
men  back  from  the  rail,  leaving  only  the  captain  and 
the  man  who  can  speak  English.  They  can  come  aboard 
here  and  then  we'll  consult  as  to  what's  best  to  be  done. 
Understand?" 

"Si"  answered  the  man  again. 

He  turned  and  spoke  to  the  crew.  His  words  were 
received  with  a  passionate  outburst  of  protest,  but  one 
man,  who  seemed  to  be  in  command,  suddenly  stepped 
to  the  rail  and  addressed  the  men,  who  sullenly  gave 
back. 

By  this  time  the  dingey  was  close  to  the  brig.  Broad- 
rib  turned  her  about  till  she  presented  her  stern  to  the 
wreck.  The  captain  seized  one  of  the  ropes  dangling 
from  the  fife  rail  and  rapidly  let  himself  down  into  the 
boat,  where  he  was  at  once  followed  by  the  man  who 
had  spoken  English. 

"  Get  clear  of  her  quick,  Broadrib,"  shouted  Clough, 
seeing  the  men  on  deck  making  a  rush  toward  the  rail. 

The  harpooner  was  on  the  alert  and  just  as  soon  as 
he  got  the  two  men  aboard  the  dingey  he  shoved  his 
boat  clear  and  with  Rice  pulled  manfully  away.  A  howl 


138  Waif-o-the-Sea 


of  fear  and  rage  arose  from  the  decks  of  the  brig.  Poor 
sailors  at  best,  having  little  confidence  in  their  officers 
and  being  of  the  excitable  Latin  temperament,  they 
fancied  they  were  to  be  abandoned.  As  no  one  left 
aboard  could  speak  English  apparently,  there  was  no 
use  in  hailing  them,  so  Clough  stepped  to  the  gangway 
to  receive  his  new  visitors.  The  first  man  who  came 
up  was  evidently,  from  his  uniform,  the  captain  of  the 
brig.  The  next  man  was  evidently  an  under  officer,  or 
lieutenant.  The  captain  of  the  brig,  who  spoke  no 
English,  saluted  and  then  placed  his  hand  upon  his 
heart  and  bowed  profoundly.  The  next  man  burst 
forth  in  a  torrent  of  speech,  half  English,  half  Spanish. 

"Easy,  easy,"  interrupted  the  American.  "Tell  me 
a  straight  story.  What's  the  name  of  your  brig?  " 

"El  'San  Martin'  de  la  armade,  Chilena,  Senor,  of 
the  navee  of  Chile.  You  spik  Spanish? " 

11  Mighty  little.    We'll  have  to  get  along  in  English." 

"  I  can  make  shift  to  translate  a  Spanish  word  now 
and  then,  sir,"  said  old  Broadrib,  joining  them,  ready 
for  further  orders. 

"Very  well,  we'll  manage  between  us." 

"There  was  ver'  bad  storm,  now  four  days,"  con 
tinued  the  man  slowly.  "  The  excellent  Capitan  Gutier 
rez" —  here  the  captain  bowed  again  profoundly — 
"do  ver'  much  to  save  el  bergantin,  pero  —  but  it  is 
iiaufragado,  wrecked  —  it  makes  water  by  the  bottom 
ver'  quick  and  can  float  leetle  more.  The  half  of  our 
men  were  lost  in  the  sea.  We  have  nothing  to  eat  or 
drink.  For  the  love  of  God,  Senor " 

"That's  all  right,"  said  Clough.     "We'll  take  you 


The  Wreck  of  the  San  Martin  139 

aboard,  although  we  went  through  the  same  sort  of  a 
storm  and  got  pretty  well  knocked  up,  as  you  see.  Now 
the  question  is  how  to  get  you  aboard.  All  my  crew 
have  been  lost  except  those  you  see  and  all  my  boats  are 
gone.  You  can  take  the  dingey  and  bring  your  men  off. 
You  had  better  be  quick  about  it,  too,  because  it  doesn't 
look  as  if  the  brig  would  float  very  long." 

The  lieutenant  translated  rapidly  to  the  captain.  He 
seemed  to  be  something  of  a  seaman  and  he  nodded  in 
quick  comprehension.  He  spoke  to  the  lieutenant  and 
said  that  he  himself  would  take  charge  of  the  boat  if 
the  American  captain  would  lend  him  two  men  for  the 
first  trip.  Thereafter  he  would  have  the  boat  rowed 
by  his  own  crew.  Of  course,  Mr.  Clough  acceded  to 
this  request. 

"  Broadrib,  you  and  Rice  take  the  boat  back.  Rey, 
you  stand  by  the  helm  again.  Remember  what  I  said," 
he  added  as  the  girl  in  her  jaunty  boy's  rig  came  on  deck 
again.  "  Storey,  you'd  better  get  ready  to  feed  those 
people.  There  must  be  fifty  of  them  at  least.  Give 
them  some  hot  soup  and  hardtack  the  first  thing.  It's 
lucky  we  filled  the  scuttle-butt  this  morning.  I'll  put 
a  guard  over  that  so  they  won't  drink  themselves  to 
death  when  they  come.  Meanwhile,  take  this  lieutenant 
for'ard  and  give  him  something  to  eat  and  drink.  He'll 
help  us  to  handle  the  rest." 

It  was  with  great  difficulty  that  their  captain  could 
restrain  the  frightened  men  on  the  brig.  They  would 
have  piled  overboard  in  swarms  at  once  and  have 
swamped  the  dingey,  so  great  was  their  terror,  but  he 
showed  himself  a  good  manager  and  a  good  com- 


140  Waif-o-the-Sea 


mander,  and  having  filled  the  dingey  to  her  capacity 
she  was  rowed  back  to  the  ship;  the  men  boarded  her, 
something  to  eat  and  drink  was  passed  down  to  the 
captain,  and  Broadrib  and  Rice,  volunteering  for  some 
other  trips,  many  others  were  successively  brought 
aboard. 

They  were  exhausted  with  fear,  loss  of  sleep,  expo 
sure,  hunger,  and  thirst.  Captain  Clough  had  got  Cap 
tain  Norris'  pistols  and  given  one  to  Storey  and  kept 
one  himself,  bestowing  a  small  one  of  his  own  on 
Audrey.  Storey  kept  them  out  of  the  galley  and  he 
kept  them  away  from  the  scuttle-butt,  for  if  the  ship 
wrecked,  maddened  crew  had  gorged  themselves  with 
food  and  drink  there  would  have  been  terrible  conse 
quences.  As  it  was,  each  man  finally  received  a  pan 
nikin  of  water,  a  bowl  of  soup,  and  a  supply  of  hard 
bread,  and  then  was  told  by  the  lieutenant,  who  was  of 
great  assistance,  to  lie  down  on  the  deck  and  rest. 

By  this  time  night  had  fallen,  but  there  was  a  long 
twilight  and  the  work  of  transshipping  the  crew  of  the 
brig  proceeded  rapidly.  After  a  time,  seeing  that  the 
men  of  the  brig  were  too  weak  to  do  any  effective 
rowing  and  that  his  own  men  were  tired  out,  Captain 
Clough  called  Broadrib  and  Rice  aboard,  bidding  the 
harpooner  watch  out  for  Rey,  and  with  the  English- 
speaking  lieutenant  taking  the  place  of  the  Chilean 
captain  at  the  tiller  of  the  dingey,  Captain  Clough  and 
Storey  did  the  rowing  for  the  remainder  of  the  trans 
shipment. 

Just  before  it  became  completely  dark  every  man 
had  been  taken  off  the  wreck  and  fed.  As  Captain 


The  Wreck  of  the  San  Martin  141 

Clough  was  about  to  invite  the  Chilean  captain  and  the 
other  officers,  of  whom  three  had  survived,  including 
the  English-speaking  one,  into  the  cabin  for  a  consulta 
tion,  a  cry  from  Rey,  who  had  bravely  kept  the  wheel 
the  whole  time,  attracted  the  attention  of  everyone  on 
the  ship.  The  crew  of  the  brig  had  been  rescued  just 
in  time,  for  as  they  scrambled  to  leeward  for  a  last  look 
at  her,  they  saw  her  dip  her  nose  in  the  water,  her  stern 
rose  in  the  air  and  she  went  down  slowly,  her  flag  still 
fluttering  from  the  stump  of  the  main  mast. 

"You  save  us  at  the  last  minute,  Sefior,"  said  the 
lieutenant,  whose  name  was  Miguel  de  la  Paz. 

"  I  am  glad  we  were  so  fortunate  as  to  do  so,"  an 
swered  Captain  Clough.  "Now,  if  you  gentlemen 
will  step  below  to  the  cabin  we'll  talk  over  what's  to 
be  done.  Mr.  Broadrib." 

"Sir?" 

He  handed  him  the  pistol  he  had  carried. 

"You'll  take  the  deck  until  I  return.  Sefior  de  la 
Paz,  will  you  tell  Captain  Gutierrez  to  make  his  men 
stay  for'ard  while  we  talk,  and  bid  one  of  your  lieuten 
ants  stay  with  them?" 

Captain  Gutierrez  nodded  as  the  words  were  inter 
preted.  He  spoke  a  few  sharp  words  to  the  crew  and 
a  few  quieter  ones  to  a  young  officer,  who  saluted,  and 
then  the  remaining  officers  of  the  brig,  with  Captain 
Clough,  approached  the  companionway  leading  down 
to  the  cabin. 

"  Storey,  you  relieve  Rey  at  the  wheel.  Rey,  come 
with  me.  I  may  need  you,"  said  Clough,  as  he  started 
below. 


142  Waif-o-the-Sea 

He  did  not  intend  to  let  Audrey  out  of  his  sight  if  he 
could  help  it  while  he  had  all  these  uncertain  quantities 
aboard. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

HOW  THE  ADMIRAL  GOT  ELECTED 

LANDLUBBERS  say  a  short  horse  is  soon  curried; 
sailors,  a  small  sail  is  soon  furled.  The  conference 
in  the  cabin  was  brief.  Captain  Gutierrez  was  greatly 
delighted  when  he  learned  that  the  Sharon  was  bound 
for  Valparaiso.  Through  Lieutenant  de  la  Paz  he 
courteously  expressed  himself  as  most  grateful  to  his 
rescuers  and  declared  himself  ready  to  do  anything  to 
facilitate  the  working  of  the  ship. 

Captain  Clough  arranged  to  take  Broadrib  into  his 
own  cabin,  which  was  provided  with  a  spare  bunk,  Rice 
and  Storey  doubled  up,  Rey  was  left  undisturbed  in  her 
own  room  next  to  the  captain's  —  much  to  the  subse 
quent  surprise  of  the  Chilean,  who  saw  no  reason  why 
a  boy  should  enjoy  such  a  privilege  —  which  left  three 
berths  available  for  Captain  Gutierrez  and  the  three 
lieutenants.  The  other  commissioned  officers  of  the 
brig  had  been  lost  in  the  wreck.  It  was  arranged  that 
Captain  Guetierrez  and  Lieutenant  de  la  Paz  should 
share  Captain  dough's  watch  and  that  the  two  other 
lieutenants,  whose  names  were  Lopez  and  Calderon, 
should  be  apportioned  to  that  of  Mr.  Broadrib.  Storey 
and  Rice  were  to  stay  aft  with  the  Americans,  one  in 
each  watch. 

The  working  of  the  ship  and  the  cooking  of  the  meals 


144  Waif-o-the-Sea 


were  to  be  done  by  the  Spanish  crew.  Captain  Gutierrez 
in  writing  expressly  waived  any  claim  whatsoever  to 
salvage  for  assisting  in  working  the  Sharon  to  port. 
Indeed,  he  said  that  his  government  would  probably 
liberally  reward  the  Americans  for  having  rescued  him 
and  his. 

The  warrant  officers  of  the  brig  and  some  of  her 
older  seamen  would  be  berthed  in  the  forecastle.  The 
rest  of  the  Chileans  would  have  to  take  their  chances  on 
deck,  although  by  doubling  up,  as  one  watch  was  always 
on  and  one  off  at  night,  quarters  below  might  be  man 
aged  for  many  of  them. 

The  five  American  and  the  four  Chilean  officers 
would  live  off  the  cabin  stores,  the  rest  of  the  crew  off 
the  ship's  stores. 

These  points  having  been  settled,  the  officers  repaired 
to  the  deck.  Storey  and  Rice  were  summoned  in  con 
sultation  and  the  whole  matter  explained  to  them  and 
Broadrib. 

"So  I'm  sort  of  a  quarter-deck  officer,  am  I?"  said 
Rice. 

"We  both  are,"  said  Storey. 

"Yes,"  said  Clough.  "I  don't  altogether  trust 
these  foreigners  and  I  think  it  just  as  well  that  we 
should  all  stay  together  aft  and  that  we  should  all  be 
armed.  There  are  several  pistols  below  which  belonged 
to  the  mates  and  I  shall  give  each  man  a  weapon,  and 
Rey  one  also.  We  are  not  to  let  these  Chileans  get  out 
of  hand  for  a  minute.  None  of  them  must  come  aft 
here  on  the  quarter  deck  except  to  perform  some  neces 
sary  evolution." 


How  the  Admiral  Got  Elected          145 

"  What's  goin'  to  be  our  position  with  regard  to  these 
yere  Chilean  officers?"  asked  old  Broadrib. 

"They  are  under  our  command  absolutely,"  an 
swered  Captain  Clough.  "You  will  give  your  orders 
to  them  in  your  watch  —  I  find  Lieutenant  Calderon 
also  speaks  a  little  English  —  and  they  in  turn  will  trans 
mit  those  orders  to  the  crew.  Now  let's  get  to  work 
and  divide  the  men  into  watches  and  make  ready  for 
the  night." 

Captain  Gutierrez  accordingly  assembled  his  men, 
explained  to  them  the  arrangements  that  had  been  made 
and  divided  them  into  watches.  The  main  yard  was 
swung,  the  main  topsail  was  set  and  the  Sharon  laid  on 
her  course  again. 

The  Chileans  were  so  grateful  at  being  rescued,  they 
had  gone  through  so  much,  that  they  were  extremely 
willing  to  do  anything.  The  watch  off  eagerly  sought 
rest  in  the  forecastle,  or  where  they  could,  and  as  there 
was  nothing  to  be  done,  those  on  watch  found  sheltered 
spots  on  the  deck  and  tried  to  get  a  little  sleep. 

"  I  have  the  first  watch,"  said  Captain  Clough. 
"  Broadrib,  you  and  Storey  go  below  and  turn  in." 

The  night  passed  uneventfully.  The  next  day, 
encouraged  by  this  reinforcement  to  his  crew,  which 
now  made  such  work  possible,  Captain  Clough  impro 
vised  fore  and  mizzen  topmasts  out  of  the  last  remain 
ing  spare  spars  and  with  some  boat  masts,  which  were 
stowed  amidships,  and  two  royal  yards  spliced  together, 
added  to  the  sail  spread  and  in  the  fine  breeze  prevailing 
materially  increased  the  sailing  rate  of  the  ship. 

The   Chileans  worked  with  a  will  now  that  their 


146  Waif-o-the-Sea 


anxieties  were  relieved.  They  seemed  to  be  a  cheerful, 
active  set  of  men,  although  they  were  clumsy  and  unskil 
ful  in  their  seamanship.  That  did  not  matter  so  much 
with  experts  like  Clough  and  Broadrib  to  direct  them. 

There  was  not  much  to  do  on  the  ship.  There  was 
plenty  of  provision.  Captain  Clough  allowed  it  to  be 
served  out  unstintedly,  so  the  new  crew  of  the  whaler 
was  very  contented.  As  only  two  of  the  officers  could 
speak  English,  and  as  none  of  the  Americans  save  old 
Broadrib  knew  any  Spanish,  conversation  was  more  or 
less  limited. 

That  evening,  however,  in  the  second  dog  watch,  the 
five  Americans  got  together  aft,  smoking,  and  the  four 
Chilean  officers  joined  them. 

"May  be  we  are  —  what  you  say?  —  luckee  to  be 
overhauled  by  el  almirante,"  said  Lieutenant  de  la  Paz, 
"before  we  get  near  Valparaiso." 

"What  admiral?"  asked  Captain  Clough,  who  rec 
ognized  the  Spanish  title. 

"Almirante  Cochrane,  the  noble  Dundonald." 

"Do  you  know  him,  Senor?"  broke  in  Broadrib. 

The  Spaniard  threw  up  his  hands. 

"  All  South  America  know  him.    Why  you  ask?  " 

"  I  sailed  with  him  in  England." 

"Ees  it  possible?" 

"Yes,  I  was  his  fav'rite  warrant  officer,"  said  old 
Broadrib.  "  I  think  there  was  nothin'  he'd  do  for  any 
sailor  he  wouldn't  a  done  for  me." 

"He  is  marvelous,"  said  the  Chilean.  "He  capture 
the  port  of  Valdivia  with  nothing  at  all.  Nadaf  I 
was  there.  We  sail  up  the  river.  We  took  fort  after 


How  the  Admiral  Got  Elected          147 

fort.  We  land.  We  all  did  mos'  valiantly,  but  with 
el  almirante  always  in  the  lead.  We  capture  sheep 
after  sheep.  It  was  wonderful.  And  his  own  frigate, 
the  O'Higgins,  made  so  much  water  that  el  almirante 
himself  had  to  repair  it  with  his  own  hands  so  that  it 
still  float.  We  not  know  how  to  build  sheeps,  only  to 
fight  them,"  said  the  young  man. 

"  I  seen  him  do  things  single-handed  myself,"  said 
old  Broadrib.  "  Why,  we  was  layin'  off  Basque  Roads, 
in  France,  you  know,  blockadin'  a  big  French  fleet  that 
was  perfected  by  a  boom  an'  forts  an'  guard-boats,  an' 
heaven  only  knows  what.  Lord  Cochrane  decided  he'd 
blow  up  the  boom  with  an  explosion  vessel,  la'nch  a  lot 
of  fire  ships  agin'  'em  an'  burn  up  some  of  'em.  Nobody 
thought  he  could  do  it.  They  all  laughed  at  him  when 
he  urged  it  on  'em." 

"And  did  he?  "  asked  Audrey,  who  was  feeling  very 
comfortable  and  happy,  no  one  having  the  least  suspi 
cion  about  her,  apparently. 

"He  sartain  did.  He  was  on  the  Imperieuse  then, 
an'  a  mighty  smart  frigate  she  was,  too.  He  took  a  lot 
of  bullies  from  the  crew,  manned  a  powder  vessel,  sailed 
her  up  to  the  boom,  touched  her  off,  jumped  into  the 
boat  an'  rowed  away  like  mad.  We  didn't  git  very  far 
off  when  she  let  go.  Lord  love  ye,  it  was  as  if  the  whole 
earth  had  blowed  up." 

"What  happened  then?"  asked  the  Chilean  lieu 
tenant. 

"  It  tore  the  boom  to  pieces." 

"And  then?" 

"  Well,  then  he  cast  off  the  fire  ships  an'  when  the 


148  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Frenchies  seed  'em  comin'  in  they  thought  the  devil  was 
loose !  For,  not  content  with  takin'  in  a  powder  vessel, 
his  lordship  must  needs  go  hisself  on  the  first  fire  ship, 
which  'tain't  a  pleasant  thing  to  be  aboard  of  on  a  hot 
night,  as  I  kin  testify,  for  he  kep'  me  with  him  all  the 
time,  although  I  wasn't  wishful  to  hazard  my  life  like 
his'n,  being  a  common  sailor  an'  havin'  only  one " 

"  And  how  many  do  you  think  Lord  Cochrane  has  ?  " 
asked  Clough  laughingly. 

"He  allus  acted  like  he  had  a  dozen,"  answered  the 
old  sailor  gravely. 

"  He  act  the  same  with  us,  too,"  said  Senor  de  la  Paz, 
who  was  listening  with  the  most  concentrated  attention, 
so  as  not  to  lose  any  of  the  fascinating  yarn. 

"That's  the  way  he  allus  acts,"  returned  the  har- 
pooner,  pleased  at  such  confirmation.  "Well,  when 
them  there  big  French  ships-o'-the-line  seen  them  fire 
ships  blazin'  like  furnaces  driftin'  down  on  'em  with 
the  wind  an'  tide,  they  cut  cables  an'  run." 

"Did  any  of  them  catch  afire?"  asked  Rice. 

"  Not  one.  Only  the  fire  ships  burned  theirselves  to 
the  water's  edge  an'  sunk.  But  they'd  done  their  part. 
They  scared  the  Frenchies  so  bad  that  when  the  day 
broke  there  was  a  dozen  of  'em  ashore." 

"  What  happened  then  ?  "  asked  Storey. 

"Why,  Lord  Cochrane  took  the  Imperieuse  in  an 
opened  fire  on  'em." 

"Where  was  the  rest  of  the  fleet?" 

"  Ca'mly  standin'  on  an'  off  about  two  leagues  to  sea 
ward.  If  they'd  come  in  we'd  have  ended  that  there 
French  fleet  right  then  an'  there,  but  there  was  bad 


How  the  Admiral  Got  Elected          149 

blood  between  Cap'n  Cochrane  an'  the  admiral  in  com 
mand,  which  his  name  was  Gambier.  He  was  by  way 
of  bein'  a  lord,  too,  an'  a  mighty  strange  kind  of  a  man 
for  a  sea  officer.  He  was  always  distributin'  tracks  to 
the  seamen." 

"Tracks?"  asked  Storey. 

"Yes,  little  papers  full  of  Bible  stories  an'  good 
advice,  you  know." 

"You  mean  'tracts,'"  said  Captain  Clough. 

"That's  what  I  said,  ain't  it?" 

"Of  course,  heave  ahead." 

"Well,  his  lordship  never  did  git  along  with  nobody 
who  was  over  him,  but  as  I've  said,  them  as  was  under 
him  allus  loved  him.  For  that  admiral  stayed  out  in 
the  offin',  refusin'  to  send  in  a  single  capital  ship.  But 
that  didn't  make  no  difference  to  our  red-headed  fire 
eater.  He  actually  went  in  alone  an'  engaged  them 
French  ships-o'-the-line.  To  be  sure,  they  was  took 
at  a  disadvantage,  them  bein'  stranded  on  shoals  or 
actually  ashore  an'  not  bein'  able  to  use  their  batteries 
well.  It  was  too  much  for  English  blood  to  stand  an' 
finally  some  of  the  other  frigates  got  permission  of  the 
admiral  to  come  in  an'  they  lent  some  help.  We  did 
destroy  two  or  three  great  Frenchmen  with  their  help 
an'  we  druv  the  rest  futher  into  the  harbor.  They  was 
no  use  thereafter  in  that  war.  But  we  could  have  got 
'em  all  if  it  hadn't  been  for  the  admiral.  Lord  Coch 
rane,  he  was  that  mad  that  him  an'  the  admiral  got 
mixed  up  in  a  parliamentary  row,  charges  was  made  an' 
the  admiral  was  tried.  Finally  the  party  in  power  to 
which  the  admiral  belonged  felt  that  they  had  to  stand 


150  Waif-o-the-Sea 


by  him  an'  they  dismissed  Lord  Cochrane  from  the 
British  Navy.  Oh,  he  had  an  awful  time.  He  was  in 
prison  an' " 

"  Yes,  I  heard  something  about  it,"  said  Clough. 

"He  was  the  funniest  man  ever  an'  most  free  an' 
easy  with  his  jaw-tackle,"  said  Broadrib,  laughing. 
"  Why  I  once  heerd  him  tell  about  the  time  he  fust  stood 
for  parliament.  It  was  a  placed  called  Honiton.  His 
lordship  didn't  do  much  campaigning  though  he's  a 
great  speech  maker,  too.  There  ain't  many  men  that 
can  heave  a  finer  line  of  talk  aboard  an  enemy  than  he 
kin,  an'  'tain't  all  sailors'  lingo  neither.  Why,  sirs,  when 
he  gits  up  to  speechify  in  parliament  the  whole  country 
wants  to  hear  him.  Well,  he  didn't  do  much  talkin' 
'bout  this  election,  but  arter  it  was  over  an'  they  found 
he'd  only  got  ten  votes,  he  sent  for  the  ten  men  that  had 
voted  for  him  an'  he  give  'em  the  finest  dinner  he  could 
buy.  There  was  a  scuttle-butt  of  champagne,  I  heerd, 
so's  everybody  could  drink  his  fill.  An'  then  he  gives 
each  man  ten  guineas,  too,  'cause  he  said  the  other  side 
was  givin'  bribes  an'  as  these  men  had  enough  courage 
not  to  accept  bribes  an'  voted  for  him  without  money 
an'  without  price  —  them  was  his  very  words  —  he 
thought  they  should  be  rewarded." 

"That  was  a  funny  thing  to  do,"  said  Clough. 

"  Wait  till  you  heers  the  rest  of  it,"  said  old  Broadrib. 

"  I  not  know  el  almirante  was  such  a  politico,"  said 
Lieutenant  de  la  Paz.  "Will  you  wait  a  minute?  I 
will  tell  my  captain  this  incident  in  his  life." 

"Heave  ahead,"  said  Broadrib,  puffing  away  at  his 
pipe.  "  The  rest  of  the  story'll  keep." 


How  the  Admiral  Got  Elected          151 

Rapidly  Lieutenant  de  la  Paz  explained  to  Captain 
Gutierrez  the  trend  of  the  conversation.  The  Chilean 
was  more  of  a  politician  than  a  sailor  and  he  listened 
with  deep  interest.  When  the  lieutenant  had  stopped, 
he  made  an  observation  of  his  own. 

"  What's  he  saying?  "  asked  Clough. 

"He  say  he  think  it  is  a  strange  thing  for  a  man  to 
pay  people  after  he  is  defeated.  He  think  it  better  if 
he  had  spent  his  money  before." 

"  That's  the  way  it's  gener'ly  done,"  said  Rice. 

"Jest  you  wait,  gents,"  said  old  Broadrib,  know 
ingly.  "  Well,  sirs,  it  happened  that  about  a  year  after 
parliament  was  dissolved  an'  there  was  a  new  election, 
Lord  Cochrane  stood  agin  for  Honiton  an'  this  time 
all  hands  voted  for  him.  He  was  elected  unanimous." 

"Well,  then  what  happened?"  asked  Clough. 

"  Nothin,  nothin'  at  all.  After  he  was  elected  they 
all  come  around  and  asked  him  for  ten  guineas  a  man 
an'  another  dinner.  He  turned  on  'em  most  contemp 
tuous,  askin'  whether  they'd  voted  for  him  for  prin 
ciple  or  jest  for  the  money.  The  whole  town  was 
howlin'  with  rage  'cause  they  had  refused  good  money 
offered  by  t'other  side  in  expectation  he  would  do  some- 
thin'  handsome,  as  he'd  done  afore.  But  he  said  it 
was  a  question  of  principle  with  him.  He  said  he  could 
reward  virtue,  but  nothin'  else." 

"And  didn't  they  get  a  thing?"  asked  Rey,  as  the 
whole  party  burst  into  laughter,  in  which  even  Captain 
Gutierrez  and  his  officers  joined,  after  being  told  the 
incident  by  Senor  de  la  Paz. 

"Yes,  they  did.     His  lordship  was  finally  prevailed 


152  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


upon  to  give  'em  a  dinner.  He  unwisely  left  the  orderin' 
of  the  dinner  to  someone  else,  an'  he  was  sent  a  bill 
for  one  thousand  pounds,  which  he  refused  to  pay,  an' 
that  got  him  in  jail  agin." 

;'  You  were  going  to  tell  us  about  the  capture  of  the 
Gamo"  said  Clough,  as  the  merriment  died  away. 

"That  will  have  to  be  for  another  night,"  said  old 
Broadrib  solemnly.  "Time  to  set  the  watches,  sir," 
he  added,  as  one  of  the  hands  forward  struck  the  bell 
eight  times,  man-of-war  custom  and  routine  having  been 
instituted  after  the  reception  of  the  Chileans  on  board. 

There  was  no  more  yarn  telling  on  the  forecastle 
for  a  week  or  so.  Nasty  weather  set  in,  rainy,  chilly, 
and  with  the  wind  blowing  in  squalls  which  made  it  nec 
essary  for  them  to  watch  the  weak-sparred  ship  closely. 
The  Americans  did  not  altogether  trust  the  Chileans, 
and  they  were  of  course  on  deck  most  of  the  time. 
Audrey  stuck  closely  to  the  captain,  who  watched  over 
her  with  a  solicitude  that  might  have  betrayed  the  secret 
if  the  girl  had  not  so  perfectly  played  her  part. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

THE  SECOND  MUTINY  ON  THE  SHARON 

THERE  was  no  denying  it.  A  state  of  friction  had 
grown  up  during  the  fortnight  since  they  had  been 
received  on  the  Sharon  between  the  Chileans  and  the 
Americans.  The  feeling  of  gratitude  of  the  one  to  the 
other  had  more  or  less  disappeared.  The  good  living 
and  comparatively  idle  life  —  for  there  were  no  guns 
for  drill,  no  sails  to  be  set,  in  short  nothing  at  all  for 
so  many  men  to  do  on  the  whaler,  and  Clough  had 
directed  the  ship's  stores  to  be  served  out  most  gen 
erously  to  his  unwelcome  guests  —  had  put  the  Chileans 
in  fine  condition  for  any  venture. 

Captain  Gutierrez  did  not  enjoy  that  position  of 
subordination  to  a  young  man  half  his  age,  as  was 
Captain  Clough,  to  which  ill  fortune  had  assigned  him. 
Although  the  Americans  were  unusually  circumspect 
in  their  conduct,  little  causes  of  difference  arose  with 
growing  frequency,  some  inevitable  irritation  devel 
oped,  and  but  for  Captain  Clough's  stern  determination 
that  there  should  be  no  break,  serious  difficulties  might 
have  developed  between  the  two  races  aboard  the 
whaler. 

He  was  heartily  sick  of  this  obnoxious  addition  to 
his  command,  and  he  wished  that  he  had  never  seen 
them  or  that  in  some  way  he  could  be  rid  of  them. 

153 


154  Waif-o-the-Sea 


He  determined  that  if  he  came  across  a  Chilean  war 
ship  —  and  there  were  a  number  of  them  cruising  along 
the  South  American  coast  —  he  would  insist  upon  the 
immediate  transshipment  to  her  of  every  foreigner 
aboard  his  vessel. 

Meanwhile  he  carefully  totaled  up  the  cost  of  daily 
food  and  added  it  to  a  bill  of  expenditures  which  he 
intended  to  render  to  the  Chilean  government.  The 
food,  by  the  way,  was  much  better  than  that  served  in 
the  Chilean  Navy,  and  the  fortunate  South  Americans 
enjoyed  it  hugely. 

One  morning  when  the  observation  Captain  Clough 
had  taken  the  day  before  indicated  he  was  within  a  few 
weeks'  sail  of  Valparaiso,  one  of  the  Chilean  lookouts 
who  was  constantly  aloft  reported  a  sail.  The  Chileans 
were  very  indifferent  seamen  and  most  negligent  look 
outs.  The  sail  should  have  been  reported  long  before 
it  was  and,  as  a  consequence,  soon  after  attention  was 
called  to  it  the  vessel  was  visible  from  the  deck. 

The  Pacific  is  a  vast  ocean,  and  was  then  largely 
untraversed,  save  by  foreign  whaling  ships,  which  were 
not  apt  to  be  met  with  in  those  latitudes  at  that  season 
of  the  year.  The  coastwise  trade  had  been  swept  out 
of  existence  between  the  cruisers  of  the  rebellious  col 
onists  and  the  war  ships  of  the  King  of  Spain.  Indeed, 
the  latter  were  few  and  far  between  and  mostly  re 
mained  snug  in  the  harbors,  so  enterprising  were  the 
Chileans  and  so  well  handled  their  sea  forces  under 
Admiral  Cochrane. 

Consequently,  when  the  reported  sail  appeared  to 
be  a  large  full-rigged  ship,  a  great  amount  of  curiosity 


The  Second  Mutiny  on  the  Sharon 

and  interest  was  at  once  aroused  aboard  the  Sharon. 
As  a  neutral  vessel  belonging  to  a  friendly  power  which 
had  taken  neither  side  in  the  war  raging  between  the 
South  Americans  and  the  Spaniards,  the  Sharon  had 
nothing  to  fear  from  either  side.  So  Captain  Clough 
steadily  held  his  course. 

The  whaler,  as  usual,  was  running  free  with  a  quar 
tering  wind,  while  the  stranger  was  braced  sharp  up  on 
the  port  tack.  She  had  been  far  to  leeward,  that  is,  off 
the  starboard  bow,  when  she  had  been  sighted.  The 
two  ships,  therefore,  if  they  continued  their  present 
courses,  would  probably  pass  within  hailing  distance 
of  each  other. 

As  they  drew  closer  together  and  as  the  hull  of  the 
stranger  rose  from  the  water,  it  was  seen  that  she  was 
a  heavy  ship  of  war.  The  size  of  her  topsails,  the 
breadth  of  her  yards,  and  the  height  of  her  masts  con 
firmed  the  Sharon's  people  in  that  conclusion.  That 
she  was  a  large  frigate  was  certain.  If  the  Chileans 
had  been  better  seamen  they  might  have  recognized 
her;  that  is,  they  would  have  known  certainly  whether 
she  was  one  of  their  own  ships  or  not. 

At  first  sight  they  concluded  that  she  was.  Her 
colors  were  flying  at  the  gaff  end,  but  she  was  too  far 
away  to  distinguish  what  they  were.  Captain  Gutier 
rez  and  his  officers  gathered  in  a  little  group  on  the 
poop  deck  of  the  Sharon,  and  borrowing  a  glass,  or 
telescope,  from  Captain  Clough,  they  surveyed  her  long 
and  carefully  in  turn,  talking  among  themselves  in 
Spanish  the  while,  with  great  volubility  and  animation. 

The  five  Americans  had  made  some  little  progress  in. 


156  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Spanish  —  that  was  about  all  they  had  to  do  —  and 
the  Spanish  officers  had  picked  up  a  smattering  of  Eng 
lish.  Broadrib  was  the  most  proficient  of  all  in  Span 
ish,  because  of  his  previous  knowledge;  next  to  him 
came  Rey,  who  was  the  youngest,  and  therefore  learned 
the  quickest.  But  neither  of  these  two,  nor  all  the  rest 
of  them  together,  could  follow  the  rapid  conversation 
of  the  Spaniards. 

Captain  Clough  looked  from  the  approaching  ship, 
now  in  plain  view  even  to  the  naked  eye,  to  the  group 
of  Spanish  officers,  who  were  growing  more  and  more 
excited.  His  suspicions  were  aroused  and  he  wondered 
what  they  were  planning.  Well,  he  would  never  give  up 
his  ship  without  a  fight  for  her.  The  excitement,  he 
observed,  was  presently  communicated  to  the  men  of  the 
crew  who  were  swarming  along  the  rail,  staring  at  the 
ship,  and  gesticulating  and  gabbling  in  a  disorderly  way, 
which  quite  disgusted  the  cooler  and  more  collected 
Americans. 

Finally  Captain  Gutierrez  and  Lieutenant  de  la  Paz 
turned  to  the  Americans. 

"We  think,"  said  Sefior  de  la  Paz,  "that  sheep  is 
Spanish.  Look." 

He  handed  the  glass  to  the  American. 

"It  certainly  is  the  Spanish  flag,"  said  Captain 
Clough,  after  a  long  scrutiny. 

"And  it  is  a  buque  de  guerra" 

"A  man-of-war  for  certain." 

" Precisamente!    Now  we  must  fly." 

"Why  should  we  fly?"  asked  Captain  Clough,  in 
great  surprise. 


The  Second  Mutiny  on  the  Sharon       157 

"They  will  come  up  to  us.  They  will  capture  us. 
We  will  be  taken  to  Espana,  to  the  prisons.  You  know 
it  not.  It  is  terrible." 

"I  don't  see  why  they  should  overhaul  us.  Have 
your  men  get  away  from  that  rail.  Let  them  stow  them 
selves  below  in  the  forecastle  or  aft  in  the  cabin,  if 
needs  be.  Let  not  one  appear  upon  the  decks  of  the 
ship  but  her  proper  crew  of  Americans.  If  she  speaks 
to  us,  we'll  tell  them  what  we  are  and  that  will  be  all," 
he  replied  confidently. 

"  You  know  not  the  Spaniard.  He  will  come  up  to 
the  sheep.  He  will  send  his  boat  aboard.  We  shall  be 
discover.  We  shall  be  made  prisoners  at  once.  We 
are  rebel,  maybe  we  hang.  We  must  fly." 

"  Well,  I'd  like  to  know  how  you  expect  us  to  fly, 
as  you  say?"  asked  Clough  contemptuously.  "We  are 
running  free  now.  That  is  our  best  point  of  sailing 
with  this  rig." 

"You  must  put  up  the  helm,"  insisted  the  Chilean 
brokenly,  at  least  that  is  what  Captain  Clough  under 
stood  him  to  say.  "  Bring  the  wind  directly  aft,  put 
the  head  of  the  sheep  to  the  southward,  so,"  he  pointed 
away  as  if  to  explain  his  words;  "we  shall  then  pass 
out  of  hail." 

"And  what  will  he  think  when  he  sees  us  change  our 
course  without  any  reason?"  asked  Captain  Clough 
stubbornly,  with  growing  anger  at  the  presumption  of 
any  man  trying  to  dictate  to  him  on  his  own  quarter 
deck.  "  He  will  certainly  be  of  the  opinion  that  we  are 
trying  to  avoid  him  and  that  will  bring  him  down  on  us 
the  sooner." 


158  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"  If  we  start  now,"  urged  DC  la  Paz  most  vehemently, 
"maybe  we  get  away.  That  sheep  there  —  it  is  cov 
ered  with  canvas,  but  it  sails  slow.  I  think  it  is  the  Span 
ish  frigate,  Esmeralda.  Her  bottom  is  very  sutio  —  it 
have  many  plants  of  the  sea  on  it.  We  can  make  it. 
The  men  are  ready.  Give  the  order." 

"  I'm  hanged  if  I  do,"  said  Clough  indignantly.  "  This 
is  an  American  ship  pursuing  her  lawful  course  on  the 
high  seas.  The  Spanish  frigate  yonder  has  nothing  to 
do  with  us.  If  her  captain  boards  us,  he  does  it  at 
his  peril.  I  won't  shift  the  helm  an  inch  or  permit  a 
brace  to  be  touched."  De  la  Paz  opened  his  mouth  for 
further  argument.  "That  will  do,"  said  Captain 
Clough  shortly.  "You  understand  I  am  in  command 
of  this  ship,  and  I  hold  my  course." 

"But,  Senor " 

"  Silence  1 "  shouted  the  American  fiercely,  his  pa 
tience  quite  exhausted.  "And  tell  your  men  to  get 
for'ard,"  he  added,  waving  his  hand  toward  the  crew, 
which  had  suddenly  massed  in  the  gangways  around 
Lopez  and  Calderon,  who  had  joined  them  by  their 
captain's  orders. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  Broadrib  and  Rey  had  gone 
forward  to  look  at  the  approaching  stranger,  leaving 
Rice  and  Storey  with  Captain  Clough.  As  soon  as  the 
two  men  heard  his  words,  they  sprang  to  his  side  and 
presented  a  united  front  toward  the  enemy.  Things 
looked  very  serious.  Captain  Clough  raised  his  voice. 

"Broadrib,"  he  shouted  loudly,  "lay  aft  here,  you 
and  Rey.  Shake  a  leg." 

There  was  that  in  the  captain's  tone  that  apprised 


The  Second  Mutiny  on  the  Sharon       159 

the  experienced  old  seaman  that  something  was  wrong, 
and  he  and  the  girl  at  once  turned  to  obey.  They  had 
not  gone  a  dozen  steps,  when  three  of  the  Chileans 
sprang  on  the  harpooner  from  behind  and  beat  him  to 
the  deck,  while  another  one  struck  Rey  a  cowardly  blow 
on  the  head.  There  was  a  tremendous  confused  scuffle 
abreast  the  foremast  in  the  starboard  gangway,  for 
Broadrib  was  made  of  tough  stuff  and  had  plenty  of 
fight  in  him  yet. 

"Unhand  those  men,"  cried  Captain  Clough  pas 
sionately,  his  heart  in  his  mouth  for  the  girl,  and  for  the 
old  sailor,  too.  He  whipped  out  his  pistol,  cocked,  and 
presented  it.  "  Gangway  there  !  Come  on,  men !  "  he 
shouted,  as  followed  by  the  other  seamen,  who  also 
drew  their  weapons,  he  rushed  at  the  mass  of  Chileans, 
determined  to  effect  a  rescue. 

The  men  sullenly  opened  a  way  before  his  advance, 
not  liking  the  looks  of  the  Americans,  especially  as  they 
had  their  weapons  out  and  ready.  It  would  have  been 
better,  perhaps,  if  they  had  all  remained  on  the  quar 
ter  deck,  for  the  instant  they  passed,  at  a  signal  from 
Captain  Gutierrez,  some  of  the  Chileans,  led  by  two  of 
the  lieutenants,  leaped  upon  them  from  behind.  Clough 
shot  one,  Rice  got  another,  but  Storey's  pistol  was 
knocked  from  his  hand,  and  the  next  instant  a  free-for- 
all  fight  raged  in  the  starboard  gangway. 

In  spite  of  the  strenuous  resistance  of  Broadrib,  he 
had  been  at  last  secured.  A  spare  rope  had  been  passed 
around  him,  and  he  was  tightly  lashed  hand  and  foot. 
Audrey  lay  on  the  deck  with  her  eyes  closed,  apparently 
senseless,  having  rolled  into  the  scuppers,  so  that  she 


160  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


had  not  been  trampled  upon.  At  least,  she  made  no 
movement,  and  as  she  was  supposed  to  be  only  a  boy, 
and  not  a  very  vigorous  one  at  that,  none  of  the  muti- 
ne*ers  paid  any  attention  to  her.  She  was  not  even 
bound. 

Forty-odd  men  were  too  much  for  the  three  remain 
ing  Americans,  even  though  the  forty  were  Chileans, 
unaccustomed  to  rough  and  tumble  fighting,  and  Cap 
tain  Clough  and  the  two  seamen  were  soon  bound  and 
helpless  like  the  old  harpooner.  Storey  had  an  ugly 
gash  on  his  head  which  bled  profusely,  but  the  others 
were  only  battered,  bruised,  and  shaken. 

The  four  bound  men  were  roughly  flung  down  on  the 
gratings  amidships,  where  the  boom-boats  had  been 
stowed  and  left  to  their  own  devices.  Rey  was  brutally 
dragged  to  the  side  of  Rice  and  left  there  also.  Her 
eyes  still  remained  closed,  and  she  looked  as  if  she  had 
not  recovered  consciousness.  Captain  Gutierrez  im 
mediately  assumed  command.  The  two  Chilean  sailors, 
who  had  been  shot  dead  in  the  brawl,  were  unceremoni 
ously  dropped  overboard  without  prayer  or  service. 
The  helm  of  the  whaler  was  put  up,  the  braces  tended, 
and  the  ship  got  before  the  wind.  The  course  of  the 
Sharon  was  now  altered  until  it  paralleled  that  of  the 
Spanish  ship,  the  direction  of  sailing  of  the  two  ships 
being  now  nearly  opposite. 

At  the  same  time  a  large  American  flag  was  bent  on 
the  gaff  halliards,  and  the  ensign  flapped  briskly  out  in 
the  fresh  breeze  then  blowing. 


Broadrib  was  made  of  tough  stuff  and  had  plenty  of  fight  in  him 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE   ESMERALDA  TAKES  A   PRIZE 

NOW  the  Spanish  frigate  had  so  far  pursued  the 
even  tenor  of  her  way,  apparently  without  notic 
ing  the  Sharon.  Perhaps  the  whaler  might  have  been 
permitted  to  pass  without  being  spoken  to,  although  her 
condition  was  certain  to  attract  attention;  but  the 
change  in  her  course,  the  obvious  intention  on  the  part 
of  the  American  to  avoid  being  hailed,  and  to  get  out 
of  the  way,  her  evident  purpose  of  running  from  the 
Spaniard,  aroused  the  interest  of  the  frigate's  officers 
and  people. 

Captain  Gutierrez,  studying  the  situation  through 
the  glass,  could  see  movements  of  men  upon  her  decks. 
Something  was  about  to  happen.  Suddenly  a  cloud  of 
smoke  darted  out  and  arose  upward  from  the  port  bow 
of  the  Spanish  ship,  followed  presently  by  the  dull  roar 
of  a  gun.  What  was  wanted  was  quite  evident.  The 
Spaniard  desired  speech  with  the  stranger.  Some  ex 
planation  of  her  changed  course  was  to  be  required. 
Captain  Clough  and  the  rest,  who  saw  everything  that 
passed,  were  filled  with  a  certain  savage  joy.  The  advice 
of  the  American  seaman  had  been  entirely  correct.  If 
they  had  stood  on,  in  all  probability  any  intercourse 
would  have  been  characterized  by  a  simple  exchange  of 
sea  courtesy,  a  polite  inquiry  on  the  part  of  the  Span- 

"    161 


1 62  Waif-o-the-Sea 


iard,  whose  curiosity  would  be  aroused  by  the  condition 
of  the  whaler,  as  to  what  was  the  trouble ;  an  adequate 
answer  from  the  American,  an  offer  of  assistance  pos 
sibly,  a  declination,  a  waving  of  flags,  and  that  would 
have  been  all. 

Now,  by  their  stupidity,  the  Chileans  had  played 
directly  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards.  Captain 
Gutierrez,  visibly  excited  more  than  ever  by  this  blank 
shot,  now  harangued  the  crew  who  had  come  aboard 
without  any  arms.  There  were  a  good  many  whaling 
implements  left  on  the  Sharon,  however.  The  men 
eagerly  seized  them,  under  direction  of  their  officers. 
Those  who  were  not  lucky  enough  to  possess  themselves 
of  such  weapons  took  marlinspikes  and  belaying  pins. 
And  all  were  stationed  at  the  rails  in  readiness  for  ac 
tion.  They  were  obviously  getting  ready  to  receive 
boarders  with  a  warm  resistance.  They  did  not  lack 
courage  apparently.  It  was  madness,  of  course,  but 
they  actually  seemed  to  be  contemplating  resistance. 
Otherwise  no  attention  was  paid  to  the  signal  of  the 
frigate. 

The  Spaniard,  seeing  that  the  Sharon  still  held  her 
course,  now  fired  a  shotted  gun.  He  meant  business, 
and  did  not  allow  his  authority  to  be  flouted.  The 
ball  ricochetted  along  the  water  in  front  of  the  bows 
of  the  whaler,  which,  as  before,  paid  no  attention,  still 
running  off  before  the  wind. 

"  The  next  one'll  be  into  us,"  growled  the  disgusted 
Clough. 

"Yes,"  said  old  Broadrib.  "I  suppose  afore  we 
gits  through,  this  vessel'll  be  knocked  to  pieces  with  all 


The  "Esmeralda  Takes  a  Prize  .163 

her  wallyble  cargo  an'  all  we've  done  will  count  for 
nothin'." 

"I  don't  know  as  to  that,"  said  Clough.  "The 
Spaniards  can  see  that  she  is  apt  to  be  a  rich  prize," 
he  went  on  bitterly.  "  They  will  spare  us  if  they  can." 

"Look,  sir,"  said  Rice. 

"They  are  coming  about,"  said  Captain  Clough,  as 
the  helm  of  the  frigate  was  put  down,  and  she  shot  up 
into  the  wind,  her  head  sails  shaking.  "  We're  in  for 
it  now,"  he  added,  as  the  Spanish  ship  finally  came  to 
on  the  other  tack. 

She  had  been  badly  handled,  but  in  the  breeze  that 
was  blowing,  even  indifferent  seamen  could  scarcely 
miss  stays.  She  was  now  heading  once  more  at  right 
angles  to  the  course  of  the  Sharon.  Captain  Gutierrez 
now  shifted  his  helm,  hauled  in  the  braces,  and  brought 
the  wind  abeam  again,  but  the  maneuver  was  unavail 
ing.  The  other  ship  sailed  two  feet  to  the  Sharon's 
one. 

The  Spaniard,  more  easily  handled  by  her  full  crew, 
in  almost  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it,  was  close 
aboard  the  Sharon.  A  figure  jumped  up  on  the  taff- 
rail  of  the  big  frigate,  which  loomed  tremendously 
above  them,  and  hailed  in  Spanish.  The  man  spoke 
slowly,  in  order  that  his  voice  might  carry. 

"What's  he  saying?"  asked  Clough. 

"He  says  heave  her  to,  or  he'll  smash  us  with  a 
broadside,"  answered  the  old  harpooner.  "I  suppose 
he  wonders  what  these  blame  fools  will  do." 

The  fools  referred  to  were  brave  enough.  There 
was  no  lack  of  courage  in  the  Chileans,  but  they  were 


164  Waif-o-the-Sea 


now  so  obviously  and  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the 
frigate  that  there  was  nothing  left  them  but  compliance. 
One  broadside  would  have  sunk  the  hapless  whaler. 
Captain  Gutierrez  reluctantly  gave  the  necessary  orders. 
His  crew  dropped  their  weapons,  and  with  obvious  dis 
relish,  set  about  obeying  them. 

"  Don't  try  to  back  that  main  yard,"  shouted  Captain 
Clough,  seeing  the  men  running  to  the  braces,  "  without 
taking  that  tops'l  off  of  her." 

As  usual,  nobody  paid  any  attention  to  him,  and, 
indeed,  he  spoke  hurriedly  and  in  English,  and  the  sul 
len  men  braced  aback  the  main  yard  as  ordered.  As  the 
weak  jury  topmast  felt  the  force  of  the  wind,  the  make 
shift  spar  carried  away  with  a  crash.  However,  nobody 
paid  much  attention  to  it  in  the  confusion,  and  the  Sharon 
was  finally  clumsily  hove  to. 

Meanwhile,  the  Spaniard  had  lowered  a  large  cutter 
filled  with  armed  men.  As  she  was  rowed  over  to  the 
Sharon,  Captain  Clough  requested  Rice,  if  he  could,  to 
ascertain  the  condition  of  Audrey,  who  had  been  lying 
perfectly  still  next  the  sailor.  Wonderful  to  relate, 
when  Rice  spoke,  the  girl  answered. 

"  I  am  only  shamming,"  she  whispered.  "  I  thought 
maybe  if  I  pretended  to  be  dead  they  would  let  me 
alone,  and  you  see  they  have.  I'm  not  lashed.  Wait, 
I'll  free  you  all." 

By  this  time  every  Chilean  on  the  whaler  had  crowded 
to  the  rail,  and  was  staring  down  at  the  cutter,  so  that 
nobody  was  observing  the  prisoners.  When  Rice  told 
Clough  what  Audrey  had  said,  the  captain  told  him  to 
ask  her  if  she  still  had  her  knife.  Receiving  an  affirma- 


The  E/smeralda  Takes  a  Prize  165 

tive  answer,  Clough  directed  her  to  cut  the  lashings  that 
bound  the  four  Americans.  This  the  girl  proceeded  to 
do  in  rapid  succession,  since  nobody  was  paying  the  least 
attention  to  them,  all  eyes  being  fixed  on  the  approach 
ing  Spanish  cutter. 

Quickly  divesting  themselves  of  their  lashings  once 
they  were  cut,  Captain  Clough  and  the  three  men  got  to 
their  feet.  They  were  weaponless,  but  they  were  free. 
Before  they  could  decide  on  what  to  do,  a  hail  came 
from  the  Spanish  boat. 

"What  ship  is  that  and  where  bound?  Why  did 
you  change  your  course?" 

"This  is  the  American  sheep  Sharon,  which  go  to 
take  the  whales,"  answered  Serior  de  la  Paz,  speaking 
broken  English,  in  an  attempt  to  deceive  the  Spaniards. 
"We  changed  the  course  because  —  we  wanted  to,"  he 
finished  in  Spanish,  thoughtlessly. 

"Well,  this  is  His  Most  Catholic  Majesty's  frigate 
Esmeralda.  I  am  ordered  to  bring  your  captain  aboard 
the  ship,"  answered  the  boat  officer  in  Spanish  also. 

"  My  captain  say  he  will  not  come,"  answered  De  la 
Paz  in  English  again. 

The  suspicions  of  the  Spanish  officer  had  been  aroused 
by  the  whole  proceeding.  At  this  instant  a  diversion 
was  created.  Captain  Clough,  taking  a  sudden  resolu 
tion,  ran  to  the  rail,  shouldering  away  from  it  several 
of  the  astonished  Chileans. 

"I  am  an  American,"  he  said.  "This  is  my  ship. 
She  has  been  seized  by  Chileans." 

He  got  no  further,  for  the  Chilean  officers  dragged 
him  down,  but  before  they  could  wreak  their  vengeance 


1 66  Waif-o-the-Sea 


upon  him,  the  Spanish  boat  shot  alongside  the  ship  at 
the  starboard  gangway. 

"  Board  her,  men,"  shouted  the  Spanish  officer,  and 
in  a  second  a  swarm  of  armed  Spanish  seamen  came 
clambering  up  the  side  battens,  while  some  leaped  for 
the  main  chains. 

The  gangway  was  filled  with  Chileans  brandishing 
weapons,  and  boarding  might  have  been  difficult  had 
not  old  Broadrib  and  Rice  suddenly  attacked  the  men 
in  the  gangway  from  behind.  Into  the  skirmish  Audrey 
McRae  also  plunged,  belaboring  the  nearest  man  with 
a  marlinspike  picked  up  from  the  deck.  Storey,  with 
the  best  will  in  the  world,  was  too  weak  to  do  anything 
from  the  loss  of  blood  he  had  sustained. 

The  Chileans,  thus  unexpectedly  attacked  in  the  rear, 
gave  way,  and  in  a  moment  the  Spanish  officer,  who 
spoke  a  little  English,  inquired  of  Captain  Clough  the 
meaning  of  the  strange  situation.  The  American  told 
him,  as  well  as  he  could,  and  willingly  consented  to 
accompany  the  Spanish  officer  to  the  frigate. 

Leaving  a  junior  lieutenant  in  command  of  the 
Sharon,  the  Spanish  officer  and  Captain  Clough,  who, 
as  usual,  took  Audrey  with  him,  were  rowed  back  to 
the  frigate.  The  interview  between  the  American  and 
the  captain  of  the  frigate  was  most  unsatisfactory  to 
the  former.  This  Spanish  officer  spoke  English  fluently, 
and  he  had  no  difficulty  in  making  himself  understood. 
Captain  Clough  rapidly  related  their  sighting  of  the 
wreck  of  the  San  Martin,  his  rescue  of  the  Chilean 
crew,  the  foundering  of  the  brig,  the  sighting  of  the 
Esmeralda,  his  cowardly  seizure  by  the  Chileans  and 


The  Esmeralda  Takes  a  Prize  167 

the  ruse  of  the  youngest  member  of  his  crew,  by  which 
he  and  the  men  had  got  free  at  the  opportune  moment. 
Then  he  formally  claimed  the  ship  as  his  own,  offering 
to  give  up  the  Chileans,  who  had  certainly  forfeited  any 
right  to  the  protection  of  the  American  flag  by  their 
conduct,  and  desired  permission  to  go  on  his  way  re 
joicing. 

"As  to  that,  Senor,"  said  the  Spaniard,  courteously 
but  firmly,  "  I  cannot  grant  your  request.  Without  in 
the  least  disputing  what  you  say,  the  circumstances,  as 
they  appear  to  me  at  present,  are  like  this:  I  over 
haul  a  ship  on  the  high  seas  under  suspicious  circum 
stances,  evidently  trying  to  run  away  from  me.  Al 
though  she  flies  the  American  flag,  I  find  her  in  posses 
sion  of  a  crew  of  Chilean  rebels,  headed  by  a  Captain 
Gutierrez,  who  is  one  of  the  most  noted  and  successful 
commanders  in  the  rebel  navy.  The  ship  is  his  when 
we  capture  her.  She,  therefore,  becomes  the  lawful 
prize  of  the  King  of  Spain." 

"  But  I  tell  you  the  ship  is  mine." 

"  Doubtless.  No  one  will  dispute  your  original 
claim,  Senor,  and  doubtless  when  you  make  proper 
representations  to  the  Chilean  government,  provided 
it  can  survive,  they  will  reimburse  you  for  the  ship  and 
probably  pay,  in  addition,  heavy  damages,  but  under 
the  circumstances,  the  ship  having  been  in  the  posses 
sion  of  the  Chileans " 

"  I  demand,  in  the  name  of  the  United  States,  that 
you  give  her  up  to  me." 

u  It  is  a  demand  which  I  cannot  entertain,"  answered 
the  Spaniard  coolly. 


1 68  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Captain  Clough  stared  at  him  in  deep  disgust,  for  he 
instinctively  realized  that  he  would  get  no  satisfaction 
out  of  the  unstable  and  struggling  government  of  Chile, 
if  indeed  it  did  succeed  in  the  revolution.  It  looked  to 
him  as  if  he  had  lost  everything  by  a  chapter  of 
unpreventable  accidents. 

"  I  trust,  Serior,  that  you  see  the  inevitableness  of  my 
duty  which,  however  distasteful  to  me  —  and  I  assure 
you  my  appreciation  of  your  bravery,  your  skill,  and 
courage  but  intensifies  my  regret — I  must  carry  out.  I 
am  afraid  that  you  have  lost  your  ship.  I  can  only 
hope  that  you  can  secure  some  indemnity  from  the  so- 
called  Chilean  government." 

"  Senor,"  abruptly  said  Captain  Clough,  his  face  dark 
with  rage,  "  I  will  lay  this  matter  before  the  first 
United  States  representative  or  ship  of  war  that  I 
come  across.  Yonder  ship  is  mine.  She  is  under  the 
American  flag  now.  The  mere  fact  that  a  lot  of  muti 
neers  took  her  from  me,  men  whose  lives  I  had  saved, 
doesn't  give  you  any  valid  claim  to  her  whatsoever, 
according  to  my  view,  and  I  repeat  my  demand  that 
you  give  her  back  to  me." 

"The  demand  is  again  refused,"  answered  the 
Spaniard.  u  Come,  sir,  we  have  parleyed  enough.  I 
have  taken  the  ship,  and  I  do  not  intend  to  give  her  up. 
She  is  of  value?" 

"  Find  out  for  yourself,"  blurted  out  the  American. 
"Will  you  put  me  back  on  the  ship?" 

"By  no  means,"  said  the  Spaniard.  "You  are  too 
valuable  a  man  to  be  left  on  the  prize." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  make  a  prisoner  of  me  ?  " 


The  Esmeralda  Takes  a  Prize  169 

"  Certainly  not.  There  is  no  war  between  your 
country  and  mine.  I  beg  you  to  accept  the  hospitality 
of  the  Esmeralda  until  we  reach  Callao." 

"  And  my  men  ?  " 

"  They  shall  be  brought  to  this  ship,  where  they  shall 
be  treated  as  well  as  we  can  manage,  Senor." 

There  was  nothing  for  Captain  Clough  to  do,  ap 
parently,  but  to  accept  the  situation,  although  it  must 
be  admitted  he  did  it  with  very  bad  grace. 

"You  may  return,"  said  the  captain  presently,  "and 
pack  up  your  personal  belongings.  And  have  your 
men  do  the  same.  Then  you  will  be  brought  back  to 
the  Esmeralda,  and  I  will  provide  you  with  suitable 
quarters  in  accordance  with  your  rank,  and  every  atten 
tion  shall  be  paid  you  until  we  land  at  Callao,  whither 
we  are  bound.  Upon  our  arrival,  I  will  at  once  set  you 
ashore.  Meanwhile,  anything  I  can  do  to  alleviate  this 
misfortune,  I  shall  be  glad  to  do,"  he  continued,  with 
most  gracious  urbanity. 

Thus  it  was  that  Captain  Clough  and  Audrey  McRae, 
and  the  three  men  found  themselves  semi-prisoners  on 
board  the  Spanish  frigate,  Esmeralda,  Captain  Bal- 
damero  Cueto  headed  for  Callao,  far  to  the  northward 
of  Valparaiso,  a  port  to  which  they  had  not  the  faint 
est  desire  to  repair.  Their  ship  had  been  taken  from 
them  and  all  their  daring  and  skill  had  brought  them 
to  nothing  but  this  sorry  pass. 

Captain  Clough  did  have  some  satisfaction,  however. 
When  he  went  back  to  the  ship  to  get  his  belongings,  he 
took  occasion  to  go  up  to  Captain  Gutierrez,  who  was 
standing  moodily  staring  at  the  Spanish  frigate.  The 


170  Waif-o-the-Sea 


infuriated  American  slapped  him  in  the  face  and  then, 
when  the  captain's  hand  went  to  the  sheath  from  which 
his  sword  had  been  taken,  Clough  leaped  on  him.  Be 
fore  the  Spaniards  could  separate  the  two  men,  the 
young  American  officer  had  the  satisfaction  of  ad 
ministering  a  sound  beating  to  the  Chilean. 

"You'll  answer  to  me  for  this,"  screamed  the  cap 
tain,  Lieutenant  de  la  Paz  translating,  "  if  we  ever 
get  free." 

"  Tell  him  that  if  we  ever  do  get  free,  and  I  meet 
him  again,  I'll  beat  him  again,"  said  the  American. 
"You  are  a  crowd  of  traitorous  ingrates.  I  save  you 
and  now  you  lose  me  my  ship  by  your  eternal  fool 
ishness." 

This  terminated  the  interview.  The  captain  of  the 
frigate  put  a  heavy  prize  crew  on  board  the  Sharon. 
From  spare  spars  of  his  own,  the  whaler  was  partially 
reequipped,  and  the  two  ships  proceeded  at  their  best 
speed  northward  toward  Peru.  The  Chileans  who 
had  been  captured  on  the  Sharon,  were  treated  with 
the  utmost  rigor.  No  distinction  was  made  between 
officers  and  men.  They  were  all  forced  below,  being 
regarded  as  rebels  and  traitors.  And  they  might  ex 
pect  a  short  shrift,  indeed,  at  Callao,  if  they  ever  arrived 
there. 

Captain  Clough  and  the  Americans,  on  the  contrary, 
were  the  recipients  qf  every  courtesy. 

When  it  came  to  providing  them  quarters,  a  difficulty 
at  once  arose.  The  Esmeralda  happened  to  be  short 
of  deck  officers,  and  two  spare  cabins  in  the  wardroom 
were  allotted  to  the  Americans.  Broadrib  and  Rice 


The  Esmeralda  Takes  a  Prize  171 

occupied  one,  Storey  was  quartered  with  the  junior 
lieutenant,  and  Captain  Cueto,  commenting  upon  Cap 
tain  dough's  obvious  fondness  for  the  boy,  Rey,  ex 
pressed  the  hope  that  under  the  circumstances  the 
American  would  be  willing  to  share  the  other  cabin 
with  the  youngster.  Promptly  checking  an  involuntary 
protest  from  Audrey,  Clough  at  once  agreed  to  the 
suggestion. 

It  was  a  natural,  and  indeed  an  inevitable  proposal, 
the  more  necessary,  according  to  Captain  Cueto,  be 
cause  the  spare  cabin  in  his  own  quarters  was,  un 
fortunately,  undergoing  extensive  alterations  to  fit  it  for 
use  by  a  civil  functionary  he  was  to  receive  at  Callao,  and 
take  back  to  Spain.  It  was  a  terrible  position  in  which 
the  young  American  was  thus  involved,  but  there  was  ab 
solutely  no  escape  from  it.  To  disclose  the  fact  that  the 
seeming  boy  was  in  truth  a  woman,  was  impossible 
under  the  circumstances.  There  would  have  been  no 
possibility  of  assuring  her  the  respect  so  necessary  to 
her  comfort  and  well  being.  The  secret  had  to  be  kept. 
It  was  with  a  heavy  heart,  albeit  a  wildly  beating  one, 
that  Clough  followed  Audrey  into  the  small  confines 
of  the  cabin  allotted  them.  They  confronted  each 
other,  color  fading  out  of  the  girl's  face,  leaving  it 
white  and  cold,  while  the  blood  crimsoned  Captain 
Clough's  weather-beaten  cheeks. 

"Oh,  what  is  to  be  done  now?"  whispered  Audrey, 
shooting  a  terrified  glance  at  the  sailor.  "  Why  did  you 
stop  me  a  moment  ago  ?  Now  it's  too  late  !  " 

"Audrey,"  answered  the  other  desperately,  "There 
is  no  way  out  of  it.  I  can't  let  that  Spaniard  know  you 


172  Waif-o-the-Sea 


are  a  woman.  I  don't  like  his  looks,  anyway.  I  don't 
know  what  might  happen." 

"But  we  can't  live  here  in  this  little  cabin  —  to 
gether " 

"We  must  and  we  can,"  answered  the  American 
firmly.  "There  are  two  berths.  You  will  take  either 
of  them.  We  will  use  the  blankets  of  the  other  for  a 
curtain.  I  will  sleep  on  the  deck  here.  I  will  turn  in 
after  you  do,  and  turn  out  before  you  are  awake.  You 
must  trust  me.  There  is  no  other  way." 

"  Be  it  so,"  answered  the  young  woman  quickly,  after 
a  moment's  thought.  "As  you  say,  there  is  no  other 
way.  I  will  trust  you.  I  do.  See,  this  will  prove  it." 

And  as  she  spoke,  she  slipped  close  to  him  and  freely 
kissed  him  as  she  had  that  night  at  the  wheel.  Clough 
understood  perfectly  that  if  she  were  not  entirely  sure 
of  herself  and  him,  she  would  never  have  ventured  upon 
the  caress  in  such  circumstances.  And  the  privilege  in 
creased  the  obligation.  He  was  in  every  way  bound. 
He  made  a  good  beginning  in  that  he  did  not  clasp  her 
in  his  arms,  as  he  might  have  done.  When  she  drew 
away,  he  answered  simply, 

"  O,  Audrey,  that  makes  it  harder,  but  it  also  makes 
it  certain." 

The  girl  nodded,  comprehending  fully  his  meaning. 

"You  will  tell  the  others  how  it  is?"  she  asked.  "  I 
couldn't  bear  to  have  them  think " 

"They  are  true  men,"  said  Captain  Clough,  "they 
could  not  be  brought  to  think  evil  of  you,  dearest 
Audrey,  whatever  opinion  they  might  hold  of  me." 

Thus  the  difficult  matter  was  arranged,  and  the  dis- 


The  Esmeralda  Takes  a  Prize  173 

covery,  with  all  its  possible  consequences,  staved  off,  for 
the  present,  at  any  rate. 

Aside  from  the  fact  that  they  were,  in  a  measure, 
prisoners,  and  that  they  had  lost  their  ship,  their  lot  was 
fairly  comfortable,  but  the  Americans  were  like 
smouldering  volcanoes.  Every  time  they  looked  ahead 
at  the  Sharon,  lumbering  along  with  the  Esmeralda 
convoying  her  under  shortened  canvas,  their  rage  grew 
greater.  They  matured  plan  after  plan  for  recaptur 
ing  her,  every  one  of  which  was  more  futile  than  the  one 
which  preceded  it. 

The  Esmeralda  was  a  large  ship  with  a  full  crew; 
she  had  put  forty  men  on  the  whaler.  The  five  Ameri 
cans  were  helpless,  would  have  been  helpless  even  if 
they  had  been  aboard  the  Sharon.  That  did  not  make 
them  any  the  less  angry,  but  Captain  Clough  prevailed 
upon  them  to  dissemble  their  hatred  and  rage,  and  they 
at  least  appeared  to  be  outwardly  contented. 

As  for  himself,  he  faithfully  adhered  to  his  plan,  but 
naturally,  during  the  day,  he  was  thrown  more  intimately 
in  the  society  of  Audrey  in  the  little  stateroom  than  he 
had  been  on  the  Sharon,  and  with  every  passing  hour 
his  passion  deepened.  The  new  intimacy  had  its  effect 
upon  her  also.  For  one  thing,  it  rendered  her  charm 
ing  and  evasive  coquetry  impossible.  For  how  could 
one  coquet  in  a  small  cabin  like  that  they  occupied  to 
gether,  under  such  circumstances  and  conditions.  She 
surrendered  her  conduct  to  her  heart  completely,  and 
showed  that  she  loved  him  with  an  intensity  of  feeling 
that  matched  his  own. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

SPANISH  HONOR  IS  UPHELD 

OBSERVATIONS  one  day  indicated  that  the  Es- 
meralda  and  her  prize  had  arrived  within  thirty 
leagues  of  the  harbor  of  Callao,  on  the  coast  of  Peru, 
and  that  at  the  six-knot  rate  of  sailing  they  were  making, 
the  next  twelve  hours  or  so  would  see  them  safely  in  the 
harbor. 

Save  for  a  few  whalers,  they  had  not  raised  a  sail  in 
the  long  cruise  since  the  capture  of  the  Sharon.  The 
ocean  had  been  swept  clean  of  Spanish  commerce  by  the 
Chileans,  and  that  new  republic  had  not  yet  developed 
any  considerable  sea  trade  of  its  own.  It  was  suspected 
by  the  Spaniard,  however,  that  Admiral  Cochrane,  with 
a  squadron,  was  off  the  coast  somewhere.  Hence  the 
bright  outlook  that  had  been  kept,  for  the  Spaniards 
•feared  Lord  Dundonald  as  much  as  they  hated  him. 

It  was  about  two  bells  in  the  second  dog  watch,  or 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  a  sail,  which  had  been 
reported  some  two  hours  earlier,  had  risen  far  enough 
above  the  horizon  to  disclose  the  fact  that  she  was  a 
large  ship,  standing  in  toward  the  coast.  Two  other 
sails  had  been  sighted  later,  far  astern  of  the  first  one, 
and  the  new  arrivals  appeared  to  be  sailing  in  company, 
They  were  men-of-war,  undoubtedly. 

That  could  only  mean  one  thing.  The  Spanish  naval 

174 


Spanish  Honoris  Upheld  17$ 

force,  with  the  exception  of  the  Esmeralda,  had  been 
eliminated  by  a  succession  of  brilliant  exploits  on  the  part 
of  the  Chileans,  mostly  engineered  and  directed  by  the 
great  Earl  of  Dundonald  in  person. 

The  Spaniards  had  scrutinized  the  approaching  ships 
with  great  care,  and  had  finally  decided  that  they  be 
longed  to  Admiral  Cochrane's  cruising  squadron.  The 
Spanish  captain  was  brave  enough  and  he  was  a  man  of 
some  skill  in  seamanship.  The  strangers  were  still  far 
out  of  gun-shot  range.  The  wind  was  light,  and  it  was 
probable  —  nay,  certain — that  darkness  would  cover 
the  sea  long  before  the  newcomers  got  within  range. 

If  he  had  been  alone,  he  would  have  put  up  his  helm 
and  made  a  quick  run  for  the  harbor.  But  he  had  his 
prize  to  look  out  for.  He  knew  now  how  valuable  she 
was.  He  believed  he  had  a  clear  case  in  law  and  abun 
dant  justification  in  marine  ethics  for  seizing  the  Shtron. 
He  did  not  want  to  lose  her.  Prizes  had  been  few  and 
far  between  for  the  Spanish  Navy  during  the  South 
American  Revolution,  and  they  were  not  lightly  to  be 
given  up.  He  decided  on  the  bold  course  of  running 
down  toward  the  stranger,  intending  to  keep  safely  out 
of  range  of  the  leading  ship  for  which,  by  the  way,  it 
was  quite  obvious  his  own  was  a  good  match,  both  in 
sailing  and  for  fighting,  and  while  he  drew  their  atten 
tion  to  himself,  give  the  deep  laden,  sluggish  prize,  a 
chance  to  escape. 

Fortunately,  the  smaller  ships  of  Cochrane's  squad 
ron,  if  it  were  indeed  his,  had  been  so  far  outsailed  by 
his  flagship  as  to  be  negligible  in  any  calculations  of 
possible  danger  Captain  Cueto  might  make.  Conse- 


176  Waif-o-the-Sea 


quently,  the  call  of  all  hands  was  presently  succeeded  by 
the  beat  to  quarters,  alike  in  every  navy  on  the  seas,  in 
its  thrilling  cadences. 

Audrey  McRae  had  never  sailed  on  a  man-of- 
war,  but  Captain  Clough  had  seen  naval  service,  and 
so  also  had  Broadrib,  while  Rice  and  Storey  had  cruised 
in  letters-of-marque,  or  privateers.  These  worthy  sea 
men  heard  the  rattling  of  the  drums  which,  of  course, 
they  recognized  with  mingled  feelings.  It  brought  back 
old  times,  when  they  had  fought  under  their  respective 
flags  against  one  another,  or  against  the  French  or 
Spanish,  as  the  case  might  be.  It  quickened  their  pulses 
and  caused  their  hearts  to  beat  faster  as  the  drums 
rolled  the  familiar  call  throughout  the  ship,  and  the 
men  ran  eagerly  to  their  appointed  battle  stations,  cast 
ing  loose  and  providing  the  guns,  sanding  the  decks, 
belting  on  their  cutlasses  and  pistols,  donning  boarding 
caps  of  steel,  and  seizing  their  pikes  and  other  weap 
ons,  while  the  marines  and  topmen  looked  to  their  small 
arms. 

They  did  not  comport  themselves  like  an  American 
or  English  crew.  There  was  much  confusion,  little 
order,  and  great  noise.  Things  moved  slowly  in  spite 
of  much  apparent  hurry.  It  was  with  the  utmost  diffi 
culty  that  the  officers  finally  got  the  men  at  their  sta 
tions  in  the  batteries,  tops,  and  on  deck,  and  quieted 
them  down. 

The  five  Americans  grouped  themselves  aft  on  the 
quarter  deck,  just  forward  of  the  mizzen  mast,  taking 
care  to  keep  out  of  everybody's  way.  The  captain  of  the 
ship  saw  them  there,  but  made  no  effort  to  send  them 


Spanish  Honor  Is  Upheld  177 

below  or  otherwise  interfere  with  their  liberty.  And 
they  were  left  in  this  position  of  vantage,  interested 
spectators  of  all  that  transpired.  Captain  Clough  did 
suggest  that  Audrey  go  below  to  the  safety  of  the  cable 
tiers,  but  the  girl  met  the  suggestion  with  withering  con 
tempt.  The  sympathies  of  the  Americans  were  entirely 
with  the  Chileans.  They  hoped  for  the  capture  of  the 
frigate  and  the  recapture  of  the  prize  so  unlawfully 
seized. 

When  some  measure  of  quiet  had  been  restored,  the 
captain  deemed  it  proper,  in  accordance  with  the  cus 
tom  of  his  country,  which  was  indeed  quite  general  then 
and  thereafter,  to  address  his  crew. 

"My  brave  men,"  he  began,  "yonder  are  the  ships 
of  the  enemy.  We  are  but  one.  They  are  three.  Yet 
loyalty  to  our  gracious  King,  to  the  great  traditions  of 
the  navy  of  Spain,  and  to  our  manhood,  as  officers  and 
seamen,  demands  that  we  have  a  nearer  look  at  them  in 
the  hope  that  we  may  strike  a  blow  for  our  flag,  and 
also  insure  the  escape  of  our  valuable  prize,  in  the  pro 
ceeds  of  which  we  shall  all  share.  I  am  sure  that  you 
will  do  your  full  duty  if  we  should  come  to  an  exchange 
of  shots,  and  therefore  I  have  called  you  to  your  quar 
ters,  confident  that  you  will  support  Spanish  honor  with 
Spanish  arms." 

"Viva  Espana!  V'wa  el  Rey!  Hurrah  for  Spain! 
Long  live  the  King!  "  shouted  the  Spanish  sailors  heart 
ily  enough,  their  imaginations  quickened  by  the  clever 
suggestion  of  profit  in  the  prize,  which  was  enough  to 
enthuse  men  so  miserably  paid  originally,  and  so  shame 
lessly  robbed  continuously. 


178  JPaif-o-the-Sea 


Most  of  them  had  never  been  in  action  at  all,  knew 
little  about  it,  and  were  still  far  enough  away  for  the 
danger  not  to  appear  very  imminent.  The  cheering, 
therefore,  was  spontaneous  and  hearty.  It  did  not 
sound  like  cheering  to  the  Americans.  It  was  more  like 
yelling,  and  they  listened  to  the  speech  of  the  captain, 
which  was  delivered  very  floridly,  with  some  little 
amusement  and  some  little  disgust. 

Old  Broadrib  stepped  to  the  side  of  the  ship  and 
expectorated  violently  into  the  sea  to  relieve  his  feelings, 
remarking,  when  he  came  back, 

"Well,  if  they  gits  under  Lord  Cochrane's  broad 
sides,  they'll  pipe  a  different  tune,  I'm  thinkinV 

Meanwhile,  the  captain  continued  to  give  orders. 
The  sail  trimmers  went  to  the  braces,  the  helm  was  put 
up,  and  the  ship,  which  had  been  hard  up  on  the  wind: 
fell  away  on  a  course  which  would  permit  her,  if  both 
vessels  stood  on  as  they  were,  to  pass  ahead,  and  prob 
ably  just  out  of  range  of  the  leading  enemy  which  flew 
Cochrane's  flag.  Signals  had  been  made  to  the  whaler, 
and  under  every  stitch  of  canvas  she  could  bear,  she 
bore  up  on  her  course  for  the  harbor.  The  starboard 
battery  of  the  Esmeralda  was  now  manned,  and  the  final 
preparations  were  made  for  action,  again  with  more 
noise  and  confusion. 

"We  didn't  do  it  like  that  on  the  old  Essex"  said 
Captain  Clough  to  the  others.  "We  scarcely  made  a 
sound.  But  here!  Did  you  ever  hear  such  a  racket, 
Broadrib?" 

"  Never  in  my  life,  sir.  Which  we  did  it  the  same 
as  you  in  the  British  Navy.  I  was  light  yardman  on 


Spanish  Honor  Is  Upheld  179 

the  Victory  at  Trafalgar  an'  we  was  that  still  when  we 
was  a  leadin'  down  on  the  French  line  that  you  could 
hear  every  word  Lord  Nelson  said.  We  all  wanted  to 
hear  him,  too.  I  was  stationed  aft  on  the  quarter  deck 
as  a  sail  trimmer.  I  well  remember  that  'ere  signal 
that  he  had  bent  on  an'  set." 

"You  mean " 

"'England  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty' ,"  re 
turned  the  sailor  simply.  "Sink  me,  but  he  was  a 
fighter,  that  little  man.  He  wasn't  half  the  size  of 
Lord  Cochrane,  but  he  was  as  brave  as  a  lion.  I  never 
seed  such  grievin'  as  when  he  was  shot.  They  treated 
him  different  from  Lord  Cochrane,  an1  yet  I  always 
believe  that  if  they'd  have  give  my  old  cap'n  half  a 
chance  he'd  have  been  as  great  a  man  as  Admiral  Nel 
son.  I  must  tell  you  'bout  that  battle  some  day,"  con 
tinued  the  old  seaman.  "  When  we  got  through  it,  we 
was  well  nigh  a  wreck,  but  you'd  ought  to've  seen  the 
French  ships  we'd  pounded.  Why,  sir,  when  we 
smashed  through  their  line  we  emptied  our  whole 
broadside  into  the  French  admiral's  stern  an'  fairly 
tore  it  to  pieces,  an'  then  we  turned  loose  on  t'other  side 
into  the  next  ship.  I  disremembers  its  name.  I  never 
seed  guns  sarved  faster  than  on  that  day." 

"Well,  we  served  them  right  rapidly  on  the  Essex 
down  there  at  Valparaiso." 

"Yes,  sir,  you  did,  you  did  that,"  said  old  Broadrib 
ungrudgingly.  "  You  made  a  fine  fight,  you  Americans. 
It  was  as  hot  there  in  its  way  as  in  Trafalgar  Bay." 

"I  never  knew  you  had  been  on  the  Victory  with 
Lord  Nelson,"  observed  Audrey. 


180  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"  Lord  love  you,  child,  there's  a  lot  of  places  I've 
been  you  never  knowed  of,  an'  some  you  ain't  goin'  to 
know  of  neither,"  muttered  the  old  man,  laughing 
rather  grimly. 

Just  here  a  midshipman  came  up,  and  with  the  cap 
tain's  compliments,  requested  the  Americans  to  cease 
talking  so  loud,  as  it  disturbed  him. 

"  Pretty  cheeky,"  muttered  Captain  Clough  in  his 
beard,  "with  all  that  chattering  going  on  forward." 

But,  of  course,  there  was  nothing  for  it  but  to  comply 
with  the  request  or  command.  It  seems  that  the  Spanish 
captain  had  caught  the  words  "Trafalgar"  and  "Nel 
son,"  and  as  that  was  a  great  defeat  for  Spanish  arms, 
he  did  not  relish  any  discussion  of  it  before  what  might 
be  a  fierce  battle,  from  the  Spanish  point  of  view. 

There  was  no  doubt  about  the  character  of  the 
strangers  now,  for  they  all  broke  out  Chilean  flags  at 
their  mastheads.  In  answer  to  this  display,  the  captain 
ordered  the  Spanish  flag  hoisted,  and  the  two  self-con 
fessed  enemies  approached  each  other  rapidly. 

Now  the  O'Higgins,  named  after  the  President  of 
Chile,  which  was  the  flagship  of  Admiral  Cochrane,  was 
old  and  leaky,  with  a  very  foul  bottom.  The  other 
ships  were  not  in  much  better  case.  As  bad  a  sailor 
as  the  Spaniard  was,  she  easily  had  the  heels  of  the  en 
tire  Chilean  squadron.  That  the  latter  was  in  such 
bad  condition  was  not  due  to  any  slackness  or  negligence 
of  the  admiral's,  but  to  the  wretched  inefficiency  of  the 
Chilean  naval  administration,  to  the  scarcity  of  docks, 
and  the  prime  necessity  for  keeping  the  force  constantly 
at  sea  in  whatever  condition. 


Spanish  Honor  Is  Upheld  181 

The  Esmeralda  gone,  the  whole  coast  would  be 
clear  of  Spanish  cruisers,  and  until  more  were  sent 
from  Spain,  Chile  would  have  a  chance  to  refit  her 
ships,  but  not  until  then  would  it  be  prudent  to  lay 
up  the  Chilean  squadron.  Lord  Cochrane  resorted 
to  every  expedient  known  to  the  nicest  art  of  sea 
manship,  of  which  he  was  master  in  the  fullest 
measure,  to  accelerate  the  speed  of  his  old  frigate. 
Tackles  were  clapped  on  the  sheets  and  halliards  which 
were  bowsed  taut  until  the  sails  were  set  as  flat  as 
boards.  By  means  of  whips  and  buckets  on  the  yard 
arms,  they  were  wetted  down  from  royals  to  courses  to 
make  them  hold  more  wind.  Every  stitch  of  canvas 
was  set,  of  course,  including  such  studding  sails  as  could 
be  carried.  And  while  by  these  and  other  expedients,  he 
added  perhaps  half  a  knot  to  the  way  of  the  ship  in  the 
pleasant  air  then  blowing,  the  Spanish  frigate  still  re 
tained  her  sailing  superiority,  which  her  crew,  after 
some  moments  of  anxiety,  realized  with  much  inward 
satisfaction  which,  as  usual,  they  expressed  volubly  un 
til  commanded  to  be  silent. 

The  four  American  sailors  and  the  girl  watched  the 
two  ships  approach  with  the  greatest  interest  and  ex 
citement. 

"What  wouldn't  I  give,"  said  old  Broadrib  in  a 
whisper,  "  to  be  aboard  that  ship  with  my  old  cap'n." 

"  Well,"  said  Clough,  "  I  would  like  to  be  aboard 
her  myself,  but  this  ship  has  the  heels  of  her.  There's 
no  doubt  about  that." 

"  I  would  rather  be  aboard  the  Sharon,"  said  Rice. 

"And  so  would  I,"  added  Storey. 


i8a  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"That,  of  course,"  admitted  Captain  Clough. 

"Why  can't  we  get  aboard  that  ship,  Captain 
Clough?"  suggested  Audrey,  pointing  aft  to  the  vainly 
pursuing  Chilean  frigate. 

"And  how  would  you  go  about  it,  my  child?"  asked 
Broadrib,  carefully  lowering  his  deep  voice  so  as  not 
to  draw  the  attention  of  the  Spanish  captain  upon  him. 

"Why,  take  one  of  the  boats  from  this  ship  tonight 
and  row  down  to  her,"  answered  the  girl  simply. 

Old  Broadrib  at  once  exploded  with  laughter  in  his 
big  hand,  but  Captain  Clough  looked  suddenly  in 
terested. 

"There's  something  in  what  she  says,"  he  remarked. 
"  Maybe  we  can  steal  a  boat  and  slip  away." 

"  What'd  be  the  objek  of  it?"  asked  Broadrib. 

"Well,"  returned  Clough,  "we've  got  a  pretty  good 
idea  that  the  Spaniards  will  never  give  up  the  Sharon. 
Of  course,  we  could  report  the  matter  to  our  govern 
ment,  but  it  is  a  long  way  to  Washington,  and  it  would 
be  a  long  time  before  they  would  answer.  If  we  could 
get  back  our  ship  and  get  away  with  her  without  report 
ing  to  anybody,  it  would  be  the  quickest  and  the  cheapest 
method  of  settling  our  difficulties,  wouldn't  it?  " 

"  Right  you  are,  sir,"  replied  old  Broadrib,  upon 
whom  light  was  dawning.  "  I  begins  to  see  what 
you  mean.  'Cause  it  stands  to  reason  that  unless  he's 
changed  mightily  from  what  he  was  when  I  knowed 
him,  Lord  Cochrane  yonder  ain't  goin'  to  rest  until  he's 
got  this  ship.  Why,  it  was  a  bigger  job  takin'  out  the 
Gamo,  which  I  ain't  never  told  you  that  yarn  yet,  but  if 
he  done  that,  he  kin  do  this.  An'  inasmuch  as  we  rescued 


Spanish  Honor  Is  Upheld  183 

them  fellers  of  his'n  from  the  San  Martin,  he  is  apt  to 
deal  generously  with  us  should  he  capture  the  Esmeralda 
an'  retake  the  Sharon." 

"Of  course,"  said  Captain  Clough,  "the  Earl  of 
Dundonald — to  give  him  his  proper,  though  unfamiliar 
title  —  is  a  gentleman,  and  has  been  trained  in  the  best 
traditions  of  the  English  Navy.  When  he  learns  that 
we  have  been  unjustly  deprived  of  our  ship,  he  will  be 
anxious  to  help  us  get  it  back  without  making  any  bones 
about  it  or  claiming  any  salvage  or  anything  of  the 
kind,  I  think." 

"  I'm  sure  of  it,  too,  sir,"  assented  the  old  harpooner 
heartily.  "  I  makes  no  doubt  on  it  at  all,  'specially 
when  he  larns  that  the  chief  owner  is  a  girl  to  delight  a 
sailor's  heart,  like  this  'un." 

"Well,  then,  let's  steal  a  boat  and  get  away  when  it 
is  dark,  and  tell  him  our  story,"  urged  Audrey,  not 
concealing  her  pleasure  at  the  old  man's  praise,  which 
she  was  glad  Captain  Clough  had  heard. 

"  That's  a  good  deal  easier  said  than  done,  Audrey," 
answered  Clough  quickly  to  the  excited  young  woman. 
"  But  we  will  look  into  it.  You  three  wait  here,"  he 
continued.  "  Broadrib  and  I  will  stroll  quietly  aft  and 
take  a  look  at  the  dingey  hanging  over  the  stern.  If 
there  is  a  way  to  lower  it,  without  being  noticed,  I  be 
lieve  I  will  try  it  if  the  opportunity  presents  itself.  We 
mustn't  risk  you,  though." 

"Well,  I'm  with  you,  Cap'n  Clough,"  said  Broad- 
rib,  interrupting  a  protest  from  Rey. 

"And  so  are  we  all,  sir,"  said  the  two  sailors. 

By  this  time  the  two  big  ships  were  much  nearer  to- 


184  Waif-o-the-Sea 


gather.  The  Spanish  captain  was  getting  rather  un 
easy.  The  nearer  he  got  to  the  Chilean  admiral,  the 
more  he  remembered  the  latter's  characteristics,  and 
the  blacker  and  fiercer  the  great  Scotsman  loomed  be 
fore  his  imagination.  The  possibilities  of  an  unexpected 
catastrophe  in  conflict  with  El  Diabolo,  came  more  and 
more  vividly  before  him. 

Suddenly  he  gave  an  order  to  one  of  his  aides.  The 
young  midshipman  saluted,  disappeared  below,  and  ran 
along  the  gangway  to  the  lieutenant  in  command  of  the 
forward  division  of  guns.  The  men  had  been  loung 
ing  around  in  very  unseamanlike  ways,  but  at  a  sharp 
word  of  command,  they  got  to  their  positions  awk 
wardly,  the  guns  were  trained,  the  gun  captains  seized 
the  lock  strings,  and  at  another  word  of  command,  the 
four  guns  of  the  forward  division  on  the  main  deck 
crashed  out  in  unison. 

Then  everybody  on  the  spar  deck,  in  defiance  of 
drill  and  discipline,  crowded  to  the  lee  rail  to  watch 
the  effect  of  the  discharge.  The  shots  fell  far  ahead 
of  the  O'Higgins,  and  after  skipping  along  the  water, 
disappeared  beneath  the  sea. 

"Why,  he  isn't  within  a  half  a  mile  of  gun-shot 
range,"  said  Rice,  with  deep  disgust.  "  Look,  Storey !  " 

But  some  contagion  of  excitement  suddenly  possessed 
the  Spaniards,  and  giving  their  guns  greater  elevation, 
division  after  division,  in  accordance  with  Captain 
Cueto's  permission,  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  O'Hig 
gins.  Even  the  lighter  spar-deck  guns,  perfectly  use 
less  except  at  close  range,  added  their  quota  to  the  con 
fusion  and  din.  Lord  Cochrane,  of  course,  made  no 


Spanish  Honor  Is   Upheld  185 

reply.  It  was  entirely  foolish  to  waste  powder  and  shot 
in  bombarding  the  sea.  But  once  having  started  the 
firing,  nothing  appeared  to  be  able  to  stop  the  Spaniards, 
and  they  swept  on  in  a  cloud  of  smoke,  pouring  a  rapid 
and  entirely  harmless  fire  into  the  surrounding  atmos 
phere. 

By  this  time  the  sun  had  set,  and  as  there  was  no 
moon,  darkness  was  already  stealing  over  the  sea. 
After  fifteen  minutes  of  this  futile  firing,  to  which,  as 
has  been  noted,  no  reply  whatever  was  made  by  the 
Chilean  ship,  the  order  to  cease  firing  was  given,  and 
after  some  confusion  and  irregular  shooting,  it  was 
obeyed. 

As  the  smoke  blew  away,  they  saw  through  the  gather 
ing  twilight,  the  O'Higgins  apparently  unharmed.  She 
was  nearer  than  before,  much  nearer,  in  fact,  but  still 
not  within  range.  The  officers  of  the  Spanish  frigate 
professed  to  discover  all  kinds  of  damage  that  had  been 
done  by  their  fire,  as  they  ogled  the  Chilean  through 
their  night  glasses,  but  Captain  Clough  declared  to  the 
others  that  she  was  unharmed. 

"Why,  none  of  them  shots  fell  within  a  cable's 
length  of  her,"  added  old  Broadrib,  in  deep  disgust. 

"  My  brave  men,"  said  the  captain  once  more,  ad 
dressing  the  crew,  "  you  have  nobly  supported  the  honor 
of  Spain.  In  the  face  of  a  vastly  superior  force,  you 
have  dashed  gallantly  at  the  enemy.  You  have  ex 
changed  broadsides  with  them,"  continued  that  worthy 
officer,  who  perhaps,  fancied  that  what  he  said  was 
true.  "You  have  inflicted  great  damage  upon  them 
and  have  sustained  none  yourself.  It  is  a  glorious  day 


1 86  Waif-o-the-Sea 


for  Spanish  arms.  His  Majesty,  the  King,  shall  hear 
how  nobly  you  have  comported  yourselves.  Your  ac 
tion  has  also  insured  the  safety  of  your  rich  prize,  which 
is  lost  in  the  darkness.  And  now,  having  thus  abun 
dantly  proved  your  courage,  we  can  honorably  retire 
before  the  more  powerful  enemy." 

This  enthusing  address  was  received  with  frantic 
cheers.  The  men  evidently  considered  themselves 
heroes.  Iturbe,  the  senior  lieutenant,  passing  by,  re 
marked  to  Captain  Clough: 

"You  see  now,  gentlemen,  how  the  brave  Spaniards 
comport  themselves  under  fire.  It  is  not  with  brutal 
fists  and  hard  heads  that  we  excel,  but  in  courage  and 
honor." 

The  captain  now  called  to  his  first  lieutenant,  and 
that  executive  officer,  having  received  instructions, 
secured  the  batteries,  dismissed  the  men  from  their 
quarters,  braced  up  the  yards,  put  the  helm  down,  and 
the  Esmeralda  soon  came  by  the  wind  again,  sailing 
directly  away  from  the  Chileans  on  her  course  for 
Callao.  As  Captain  Cueto  had  said,  the  Sharon  was 
out  of  sight  in  the  darkness,  and  it  did  not  appear  likely 
that  the  slow-moving  Chilean  squadron  could  overhaul 
her  before  she  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Callao. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

A    HALF   WAY   SUCCESS 

BY  THIS  time,  nothing  could  be  seen  of  the  Sharon 
in  the  darkness.  Her  prize  master  had  had  the 
wit  to  put  out  all  his  lights  as  he  slipped  away.  Satisfied 
that  he  still  had  the  heels  of  the  O'Higgins,  Admiral 
Cochrane's  flagship,  the  Esmeralda,  made  a  great  dis 
play  of  her  own  lights,  and  as  there  was  nothing  what 
ever  to  be  gained  by  concealment,  the  running  lights 
of  the  O'Higgins  were  presently  visible  from  the  deck 
of  the  Spaniard. 

By  the  time  the  Esmeralda  had  come  by  the  wind,  and 
got  on  her  course  again,  it  had  grown  completely  dark. 
The  Spanish  captain  ordered  wine  to  be  served  to  all 
hands  before  the  watches  were  set,  and  the  watch  below 
was  piped  to  its  supper.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  con 
fusion  on  the  deck,  a  good  deal  of  crowding  to  the 
waist  where  the  wine  was  served,  even  the  officers  look 
ing  on  with  amused  interest  at  the  undisciplined  jollifica 
tion.  Captain  Clough  and  Broadrib,  who  had  pre 
viously  carefully,  if  rapidly,  examined  the  ropes  and 
gripes  securing  the  dingey  on  the  stern,  the  smallest  boat 
of  the  ship,  took  advantage  of  the  situation  despite  the 
desperate  risk  to  cast  off  the  gripes  and  slack  away  the 
falls  a  little  so  that  the  dingey  swung  half  way  between 
the  stern  and  the  water  ready  for  a  quick  drop.  The 

187 


Waif-o-the-Sea 


other  three  Americans  meanwhile  crowded  around  them 
and  covered  them  from  sight  as  if  staring  after  the 
pursuing  ships.  They  also  saw  to  it  that  the  plug  was  in 
the  hole  made  to  let  out  the  rain  while  she  hung  to  her 
davits,  and  that  the  dingey  was  provided  with  oars. 

She  was  a  light  boat  and  the  four  Americans  even 
without  Audrey  to  steer  could  easily  manage  her  in 
such  weather.  There  would  be  little  or  no  risk  in  the 
light  air  then  blowing  and  the  smooth  sea  consequent 
upon.  But  no  matter  what  the  risk  they  were  now  fully 
determined  upon  escape  if  it  were  possible. 

They  had  barely  completed  their  preparations  when 
they  observed  the  captain  coming  aft.  To  break  away 
from  the  taffrail  upon  which  they  had  been  leaning  and 
advance  to  intercept  him  was  the  work  of  an  instant. 

"A  warm  engagement,  Senores,"  said  Captain  Cueto 
taking  off  his  gold-laced  cap  and  wiping  the  perspiration 
from  his  brow. 

"Very  hot,  sir,"  said  Clough  coolly,  whereat  old 
Broadrib  had  to  put  his  hand  to  his  mouth  to  keep  from 
exploding  again,  and  Audrey  had  a  desperate  struggle 
to  prevent  a  snicker  from  escaping. 

"You  saw  how  fearlessly  we  advanced  against  such 
a  superior  force  and  the  smartness  with  which  we  en 
gaged?" 

"  I  certainly  did  ,  sir,"  said  Clough  most  heartily.  He 
had  no  desire  on  earth  to  vex  the  Spanish  captain,  on 
the  contrary.  "Your  fire  was  magnificent,  so  rapid, 
so  continuous,  so " 

"Do  you  think  we  did  any  damage?"  interrupted 
the  eager  Spaniard. 


A  Half  Way  Success 


"How  can  anyone  doubt  it,  Senor,"  answered 
Clough  speciously,  "when  it  so  overwhelmed  the 
enemy  that  he  was  unable  to  make  any  return  to  it 
at  all?" 

"  I  noticed  that,"  said  the  gratified  captain. 

"  Of  course,  we  all  noticed  it.  Didn't  we,  ship 
mates?" 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,  that  we  did,"  came  from  the  Amer 
icans,  who  had  followed  with  keen  appreciation  their 
young  officer's  diplomatic  lead. 

"  It  was  heroic,  Senor,  "  ventured  Audrey  smiling  as 
if  in  congratulation. 

"The  cowardly  Chileans,"  said  the  captain  grandil 
oquently,  and  obviously  greatly  pleased  with  the  flattery 
he  had  evoked,  "were  probably  paralyzed  with  fear 
when  they  saw  the  approach  of  my  great  frigate.  I 
have  no  doubt  that  they  probably  ran  below  as  we 
opened  fire.  Yet,  I  have  heard  that  Almirante  Coch- 
rane  was  a  brave  man  —  for  an  Englishman." 

"Yes,  you're  right  there,  sir,"  said  old  Broadrib. 
"  For  an  Englishman,  he  certainly  was  a  brave  man, 
but  of  course,  when  you  contrast  him  with  a  Spaniard" 
—  here  Mr.  Clough  gave  him  a  warning  dig  in  the  ribs 
with  his  elbow — "that  don't  count  for  much,"  gritted 
out  Broadrib  in  deep  disgust;  he  had  intended  to  say 
something  quite  different. 

"  I  should  have  liked  nothing  better  than  to  have 
come  to  close  quarters  with  the  Chilean  pigs  and  their 
beef-eating  admiral,"  continued  the  Spanish  captain 
more  and  more  proud  of  his  extraordinary  heroism. 
"  My  brave  crew  were  thirsting  for  blood,  but  I  have  a 


190  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


higher  duty  to  perform,  Sefiores.  I  will  entice  them 
under  the  guns  of  the  forts  at  Gallao  and  then,  with  my 
ship,  we  will  destroy  them." 

"Quite  so,"  observed  Clough  cynically.  "I  think 
that  is  just  about  the  way  it  will  happen." 

"  It  seems  to  me  they  are  overhauling  us,  Captain 
Cueto,"  maliciously  interposed  Audrey  suddenly. 

"What!"  exclaimed  the  captain  instantly  swinging 
about  in  great  alarm  and  staring  aft.  "  Oh,  no,  Sefior. 
We  are  much  the  faster  ship,"  he  added  in  great  relief. 

His  glance  had  reassured  him.  The  O'Higglns  was 
certainly  further  away  than  she  had  been. 

"Sefiores,"  he  went  on  complacently,  "in  honor  of 
this  great  victory,  it  would  be  a  great  pleasure  if  you 
would  take  supper  with  me.  You,  Captain  Clough  and 
you  Mr.  Broadrib  and  you  others  as  well." 

"Do  you  mean  me,  sir,  too?"  asked  Audrey  boldly. 

"  Certainly,  my  boy,"  said  the  captain  with  whom 
she  was  quite  a  favorite. 

"We  would  be  delighted,  sir,"  said  Captain  Clough. 

"Very  well.  If  you  will  come  below  to  my  cabin, 
I  have  no  doubt  that  my  steward  has  everything  ready." 

The  captain  turned  and  led  the  way,  the  others  fol 
lowing. 

"We  couldn't  wish  for  anything  better,"  whispered 
Clough  who  lingered  behind  to  speak  to  the  harpooner 
privately. 

He  rapidly  outlined  to  old  Broadrib  a  brilliant  little 
plan  of  action.  The  old  man  grinned  from  ear  to  ear. 

"At  tricks,"  he  whispered,  "  Cap'n  Clough,  you're 
almost  ekal  to  Lord  Cochrane,  hisself,  an'  I  can't  say 


A  Half  Way  Success  191 

no  more'n  that.  We'll  do  it.  Lemme  explain  to  the 
men  an'  the  little  lady  yonder." 

"No,  we  can't,  we  might  be  overheard,"  answered 
Clough  as  he  descended  the  ladder.  "Say  nothing 
about  it.  You  and  I  will  be  enough.  The  men  are  quick 
witted  and  will  catch  on.  As  for  Miss  McRae  I  don't 
want  her  to  take  any  risk  whatever,  and  it's  not  neces 
sary.  Men  stand  by  with  your  fists,  or  table  knives,  or 
whatever  you  can  grab  when  the  time  comes,"  he  whis 
pered  to  Storey  and  Rice  as  the  five  entered  the  captain's 
cabin. 

Elated  by  the  great  victory  he  had  won  and  the 
brilliance  of  his  martial  exploit,  and  filled  with  a  pro 
found  consciousness  of  his  high  courage  and  bravery, 
the  captain  made  a  gala  occasion  of  that  dinner.  The 
best  the  ship  afforded  was  set  before  his  five  guests  and 
they  ate  heartily. 

Captain  Clough  sat  on  the  right  side  of  the  captain, 
Broadrib  on  the  other  side,  one  of  the  Esmeralda's 
officers  and  a  midshipman  who  had,  of  course,  been  in 
vited  as  was  customary,  sat  next  to  Captain  Clough  and 
Broadrib,  Rice  and  Storey  sat  next  to  them  while 
Audrey  had  a  place  of  her  own  at  the  very  end  of  the 
table. 

Clough  and  Broadrib  had  not  bargained  for  the 
lieutenant  and  the  midshipman  but  they  decided  that 
under  the  circumstances  the  plan  they  had  rapidly 
matured  must  be  carried  out  nevertheless. 

After  the  cloth  had  been  removed,  cigars  and  cham 
pagne  in  honor  of  this  occasion  had  been  produced  and 
the  stewards  withdrew.  All  through  the  meal,  Broad- 


192  Waif-o-the-Sea 


rib  who  could  drink  enough  liquor  to  sink  a  ship  with 
out  affecting  him,  proposed  toast  after  toast  to  the 
brave  Spanish  officers,  which  they  drank  with  a  will. 
The  Americans  had,  of  course,  joined  in  the  toasting 
but  taking  their  cue  from  Captain  Clough,  they  had 
merely  pretended  to  sip  their  glasses  while  the  Span 
iards  drained  theirs,  and,  of  course,  Audrey  did  not  take 
anything  but  water. 

Captain  Clough  also  had  lauded  Spanish  courage 
and  Spanish  bravery  and  seamanship  to  the  skies.  The 
Spanish  captain  with  difficulty  restrained  himself  from 
embracing  the  flattering  Americans.  The  uproar  and 
confusion  were  great.  The  hilarity  and  joy  were  man 
ifest.  At  first  it  had  attracted  some  notice  from  the 
officers  on  deck,  but  as  it  continued  and  as  they  realized 
what  was  toward,  they  paid  no  attention  to  it,  which 
was  exactly  what  Clough  had  counted  upon.  Finally 
old  Broadrib  arose. 

"  I  wants  to  propose  a  final  toast,"  he  said  lifting 
his  glass,  "to  the  gallant  cap'n  of  the  Esmeralda.  I 
never  seed  a  ship  better  handled  or  more  boldly  carried 
down  to  the  enemy,  or  fiercer  fought  arterwards  in  all 
my  long  seafarin'  life,  gents,  an'  I've  seed  the  great 
Lord  Nelson  hisself.  I  makes  bold  to  say  that  if  Cap 
tain  Cueto  had  been  in  the  Spanish  line  at  Trafalgar 
we'd  have  been  licked  out  of  our  boots,  an'  I'm  proud  to 
have  been  on  his  ship  even  as  a  peaceful  observer  on 
this  glorious  day,"  he  went  on  with  most  egregious 
flattery  which  the  half  drunken  Spanish  captain  swal 
lowed  without  even  winking. 

"I  echo  the  sentiments  of  my  mate,"  said  Clough 


A  Half  Way  Success  193 

instantly  rising  to  his  feet.  "  Gentlemen,  up  all  and  let 
us  drink  this  toast  in  bumpers." 

The  three  Spaniards  and  the  five  Americans  got  to 
their  feet;  the  Spaniards  very  uncertainly.  They  had 
looked  on  the  wine  cup  not  wisely,  but  too  long.  The 
captain  at  last  attained  a  precarious  standing  position. 
He  leaned  forward  uncertainly  with  his  hand  on  the 
table  and  opened  his  mouth  to  reply  in  fitting  terms  to 
the  compliments.  The  next  minute  he  found  himself  in 
the  air.  Old  Broadrib  balling  his  fist  struck  him  fairly 
and  squarely  on  the  chin.  He  was  lifted  up  by  the  force 
of  the  blow  and  then  plunged  to  the  deck  unconscious. 

Captain  Clough  without  saying  a  word,  grabbed  the 
Spanish  lieutenant  by  the  throat.  Rice  clapped  his  hand 
over  the  mouth  of  the  midshipman  just  as  he  opened 
it  to  scream.  The  seizure  was  effected  in  an  instant.  It 
was  a  complete  success. 

"  Storey,"  said  Captain  Clough  shaking  the  Spanish 
lieutenant  as  he  might  a  rat,  "  go  to  the  help  of  Broad- 
rib." 

"  Don't  need  no  help,  sir,"  answered  Broadrib  pick 
ing  up  the  Spanish  captain  who  was  still  incapable  of 
speech. 

He  dropped  him  on  a  transom  where  he  lay  per 
fectly  helpless,  gasping.  Of  course,  he  would  get  his 
voice  back  as  soon  as  he  recovered  his  consciousness, 
but  they  would  be  away  before  he  could  give  the  alarm 
if  they  worked  quickly. 

"Unbuckle  this  officer's  belt,  Storey,"  said  Clough. 

He  released  his  grip  on  the  man  for  a  minute  and  as 
he  opened  his  mouth  for  air,  he  shoved  a  napkin  into  it. 


194  Waif-o-the-Sea 


The  officer's  hands  were  dragged  to  his  sides.  Captain 
Clough  clasped  the  belt  about  them,  drew  it  tight  and 
buckled  it  and  then  shoved  him  down  on  another  tran 
som.  The  helpless  midshipman  was  treated  in  exactly 
the  same  way. 

Meanwhile,  by  Clough's  direction,  old  Broadrib  had 
gone  into  the  after  cabin,  the  captain's  private  room, 
and  had  got  everything  ready  for  lowering  the  dingey. 
While  they  were  busy  with  the  two  men,  the  door  sud 
denly  opened  and  in  came  a  steward.  Audrey  was  the 
one  who  first  saw  him.  The  steward  was  a  full-grown 
man  and  the  girl  could  not  have  managed  him  alone. 
She  seized  him  boldly  nevertheless  before  he  could  open 
his  mouth  to  yell  and  the  next  minute  Rice  and  Storey 
were  on  him.  They  took  the  precaution  after  they 
gagged  him  and  stowed  him  in  a  spare  stateroom,  to 
lock  the  door  leading  out  from  the  cabin  where  they  had 
dined.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  struggle  had  at 
tracted  attention  on  deck,  and  although  the  men  in  the 
cabin  did  not  know  it,  the  officer  of  the  watch  had  al 
ready  summoned  assistance  and  was  approaching  the 
cabin  door. 

"  Now,  men,"  said  Captain  Clough  in  great  satis 
faction,  "come  on." 

"What  about  these  Spaniards,  sir?"  asked  Rice. 

"Leave  them  as  they  are.-  They'll  be  all  right 
presently.  Don't  hurt  them,''  was  the  answer  of  the 
officer. 

He  rapidly  led  the  way  through  the  captain's  cabin. 
The  three  seamen  clambered  through  the  stern  window 
into  the  boat,  which  was  swinging  just  on  a  level  with 


A  Half  Way  Success  195 

the  port  sill,  Broadrib  took  the  yoke  lines  to  steer,  Rice 
and  Storey  looked  out  for  the  falls,  Captain  Clough  and 
Audrey  waited  while  they  lowered  the  dingey,  as  silent 
ly  as  possible  until  she  was  waterborne  whereupon  Rice 
and  Storey  took  their  places  on  the  thwarts  and  broke 
out  the  oars. 

"  Come  on,  sir,  with  the  lady,"  said  Boardrib  softly. 

The  next  minute  a  terrific  uproar  was  heard  from  the 
ship.  They  had  heard  a  knocking  on  the  outer  door 
as  they  left  the  captain's  cabin,  but  of  course,  had  given 
no  heed  to  it. 

The  captain  had  come  to,  he  had  found  his  voice,  he 
had  yelled  for  help.  Into  the  cabin  had  burst  the  officer 
of  the  watch  and  some  of  the  marines  of  the  ship.  They 
were  astonished  at  what  they  saw.  A  few  words  put 
them  in  possession  of  the  facts. 

Before  Clough  and  Audrey  could  move  the  Spaniards 
swarmed  into  the  after  cabin.  Clough  shouting  to 
Audrey  to  escape  through  the  stern  window  seized  a 
stool  and  leaped  at  the  group  of  men.  But  Audrey  did 
not  obey.  She  was  paralyzed  with  fear  for  the  man  she 
loved.  He  struck  down  the  nearest  man,  but  the  others 
threw  themselves  upon  him.  They  crowded  between 
Clough  and  the  woman  hiding  her  from  his  view.  He 
fought  them  off  gallantly  and  supposing  Audrey  had 
obeyed  his  orders  he  took  advantage  of  a  lull  in  the 
conflict,  since  no  Spaniard  cared  to  risk  a  broken  head 
and  Captain  Cueto  well  in  the  rear  was  screaming  out 
orders  that  the  American  must  be  taken  alive,  to  leap  on 
the  port  sill  preparatory  to  dropping  into  the  boat  be 
low.  He  had  to  relinquish  his  guard  to  do  this  and  the 


196  Waif-o-the-Sea 


nearest  Spaniard  a  big  sergeant  of  marines  seized  him 
to  haul  him  back. 

No  one  had  paid  any  attention  to  Audrey,  but  she 
saw  her  lover's  peril  and  boldly  threw  herself  upon  the 
sergeant.  She  was  only  a  girl.  She  could  do  little  with 
the  natural  members  a  man  would  have  used.  She  had 
one  resource,  however.  In  her  passionate  determina 
tion  to  free  Captain  Clough  she  bit  the  big  sergeant's 
hand. 

On  the  instant  Clough  recognized  her.  He  had  been 
straining  backward  from  the  sergeant.  As  Audrey's 
teeth  met  in  the  latter's  hand  he  released  the  American 
with  a  violent  backward  thrust.  Clough  strove  to  re 
tain  his  position,  to  clamber  back  into  the  cabin,  for  he 
would  not  have  deserted  the  girl  for  worlds.  The 
effort  was  vain.  Calling  out  her  name,  seeing  the 
sergeant  tear  his  hand  away  and  seize  the  collar  of 
her  jacket  and  shake  the  poor  girl  as  a  cat  does  a  rat, 
the  American  fell  backward  and  splashed  into  the  sea. 

Broadrib,  who  with  the  others  had  heard  the  noise  of 
the  brief  encounter  which  was  over  almost  as  soon  as 
it  had  begun,  directed  that  the  painter  be  cast  loose, 
and  as  the  boat  whirled  away  he  seized  the  officer  and 
drew  him  aboard. 

"My  God,  sir,"  he  began,  "what's  happened  and 
where's  Miss  Audrey?  " 

"The  cowardly  brutes  have  got  her,  damn  them," 
answered  the  enraged  lover.  "  Pull  back  to  the  ship 
men,  for  God's  sake.  We  can't  leave  her  there  alone." 

But  old  Broadrib  shook  his  head,  he  signed  to  Rice 
and  Storey  who  had  bent  to  their  oars. 


A  Half  Way  Success  197 

"  It's  useless,  sir.  She  sails  six  feet  to  our  one.  God 
knows  I'd  cheerfully  give  my  life  for  that  little  lady. 
But  our  only  hope  now  is  in  Lord  Cochrane.  He'll  git 
her  for  us,  an'  if  aught  happens  to  her  he'll  make  them 
pay  dear,  sir,  an'  mates  all." 

Captain  Clough  stared  after  the  rapidly  moving 
frigate.  Then  he  buried  his  face  in  his  hands  and 
groaned  aloud.  He  could  not  gainsay  the  wisdom  of 
the  old  harpooner. 

The  Spaniards  on  the  frigate  now  burned  a  flare  aft 
and  in  its  radiance  caught  sight  of  the  boat.  Their 
stern  chasers  had  been  loaded  and  had  not  been  fired. 
They  hastily  primed  and  pulled  the  lock  strings  and  two 
bright  flashes  of  light  burst  out  in  the  darkness  followed 
by  two  sharp  reports.  In  their  excitement  they  had  not 
aimed  the  guns  and  consequently  one  shot  went  wide 
while  the  other  passed  far  overhead  and  fell  beyond  the 
dingey. 

Broadrib  steering,  Rice  and  Storey  at  the  oars  rowed 
like  mad.  They  were  soon  out  of  the  light  cast  by  the 
frigate  and  although  the  stern-chase  guns  continued  to 
fire  at  them,  by  Captain  Clough's  direction  they  had 
pulled  out  of  the  line  of  fire  and  the  bullets  went  harm 
lessly  into  the  sea  as  before.  Of  course,  the  Spanish 
ship  could  have  backed  its  main  yard  and  lowered  a 
couple  of  cutters  and  could  have  searched  until  the  run 
aways  were  found  and  brought  back,  but  Clough  had 
counted  on  the  fact  that  the  Esmeralda  would  not  dare 
make  any  such  attempt  because  of  the  nearness  of  the 
Q'Higgins  and  Admiral  Cochrane. 

The  Esmeralda  had  a  superiority  in  sailing,  but  not 


198  Waif-o-the-Sea 


enough  to  throw  away  time  and  distance  in  searching  for 
and  pursuing  the  dingey  in  the  black  night.  The  Span 
ish  captain  black  with  rage  had  to  swallow  the  insult 
that  had  been  put  upon  him  by  these  daring  Americans. 
He  swore  that  if  he  ever  got  a  chance  he  would  wreak 
full  vengeance  upon  them.  Meantime  he  held  one  of 
them  and  he  would  begin  with  the  boy. 

The  Americans  very  depressed  in  spirit  pulled  away 
in  the  direction  of  the  oncoming  O'Higgins  whose  lights 
were  also  clearly  visible. 

"  Come  to  think  of  it,"  said  Captain  Clough  sadly, 
"this  suggestion  came  from  Miss  McRae.  If  we 
can  board  the  O'Higgins  and  get  back  our  ship  and 
herself  with  it,  it  will  all  be  due  to  the  youngster,  as  it 
was  before." 

"You  kin  be  sure  of  one  thing,  sir  an'  mates,"  said 
old  Broadrib,  "that  if  we  gits  aboard  yon  ship  an'  tells 
Lord  Cochrane  our  story,  his  lordship  will  never  rest 
until  he  captures  the  Esmeralda  an'  the  Sharon,  an' 
restores  the  lady  to  us.  Lord,  did  you  ever  see  anythin' 
look  so  foolish  as  that  cap'n  did  when  I  was  tellin'  him 
he  was  the  greatest  seaman  that  ever  sailed  the  waters, 
that  if  he  had  been  at  Trafalgar  we'd  have  been  licked? 
Why  he  swallowed  the  whole  thing  down.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  them  Spaniards  an'  Frenchies  that  day  did  jest 
what  this  one  did  this  day.  They  fired  about  half  their 
powder  an'  ball  at  our  ships  afore  we  got  near  'em.  We 
waited  an'  reserved  our  fire  until  we  was  in  the  middle 
of  'em  an'  then  we  gave  it  to  'em.  I  guess  nobody  that 
was  there  will  ever  forgit  it.  We  are  out  of  that  mess 
nicely,  sirs,  an'  I've  kind  of  a  feelin'  we're  goin'  to  git 


A  Half  Way  Success  199 

on  the  O'Higgins  an'  git  back  our  ship  an'  the  little  lady 
we  all  loves  unharmed.  Lord  Cochrane  is  the  kind  of  a 
man  that'll  enjoy  a  yarn  like  this  we've  got  to  spin  an' 
we  can  depend  on  him  doin'  everything  for  a  woman. 
It's  after  his  own  way  of  doin'  business." 

"  I  hope  so,"  said  Clough  sadly.  "  Give  way  strong, 
lads.  Broadrib  lay  your  course  to  bring  us  alongside 
of  that  ship  yonder.  But  I'd  give  all  my  lay  on  the 
Sharon  and  all  I  ever  expect  to  be  worth  to  be  back  on 
the  Esmeralda  with  the  poor  girl.  I  wonder  what  is 
happening!"  he  added  desperately. 

This  was  what  was  toward.  After  clearing  the  cabin 
of  the  crew  Captain  Cueto  advanced  toward  Rey  still 
held  by  the  sergeant. 

"  You  traitorous,  ungrateful  young  dog,"  he  roared. 
"  I'm  glad  I've  got  one  of  you  still.  Sergeant,  tell  the 
officer  of  the  watch  to  call  all  hands  to  witness  punish 


ment." 


"What  are  you  going  to  do?"  faltered  the  girl, 
swiftly  suspecting  what  was  in  the  enraged  captain's 
mind. 

"  Strip  you  to  the  waist,  master  impudence,  and  flog 
you  at  the  gratings  before  the  crew,  as  you  deserve." 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

BRAVE  BUT  A  WOMAN 

AUDREY  McRAE  was  as  brave  a  girl  as  any  that 
ever  drew  the  breath  of  life.  Naturally  of  an 
intrepid  disposition,  her  long  career  as  a  boy,  the  asso 
ciation  on  equal  terms  with  the  hardy  men  to  whom  dan 
ger  in  the  pursuit  of  their  venturesome  calling  was  an 
every-day  affair,  the  scenes  of  bloodshed  and  peril 
through  which  she  had  passed,  all  had  intensified  her 
native  courage.  In  an  ordinary  emergency  she  was  al 
most  as  fearless  as  Benjamin  Clough,  whom  she  loved. 
But  there  was  that  in  Captain  Cueto's  threat  which  al 
most  stopped  her  heart. 

To  be  paraded,  stripped  to  the  waist,  before  a  Span 
ish  crew !  The  idea  drove  the  blood  to  her  skin  in  a 
mighty  wave,  whose  instant  ebb  left  her  paler  than  the 
crest  where  the  wave  white-waters  and  breaks.  Nor 
was  it  of  the  awful  agony  of  the  flogging  —  even  in  the 
gentlest  hand  the  cat-o'-nine-tails  is  no  caresser  —  of 
which  she  thought,  though  that  might  make  the  most 
nervously  insensible  quail.  It  was  not  the  pain  but  the 
shame  that  left  her  v/hite  and  shaken.  The  threatened 
affront  to  her  modesty,  her  womanhood,  was  that  from 
which  she  shrank. 

It  did  not  occur  to  her  that  she  had  only  to  discover 
her  sex  to  the  captain  to  assure  herself  an  immunity 


Brave  but  a  Woman  201 

from  the  promised  flogging.  Indeed  she  realized  in 
stinctively,  intuitively,  that  such  a  discovery,  while  it 
would  save  her  from  one  peril  would  expose  her  to 
another  equally  unbearable,  unsupportable. 

And  that  has  been  the  disadvantage  of  woman  in 
warfare  since  Tubal  Cain  forged  the  sword  for  his 
father  Lamech.  A  man  has  only  his  life  to  lose,  while 
many  a  woman  has  cursed  the  fate  that  spared  her  life 
and  left  her  shamed  —  through  no  fault  of  her  own 
either.  That  is  one  of  the  reasons  why  woman  can 
not  stand  upon  an  absolute  parity  with  man  in  the 
world's  battlefields.  No  matter  how  high  her  spirit, 
how  much  above  proof  her  courage,  how  abnormally 
strong  her  body,  how  entire  her  consecration,  she  is 
handicapped  for  success  because  she  has  so  much  more 
to  lose. 

Poor  Audrey  did  not  reason  all  this  out.  She  simply 
felt  it,  and  the  realization  made  her  helpless.  Her 
tongue  clave  to  the  roof  of  her  mouth.  She  could  only 
stare  at  the  infuriated  captain.  He  made  a  horrid 
picture,  his  mind  obscured  by  rage  and  hate,  his  face 
bloody  from  blow  and  fall.  No  wonder  that  the  girl, 
all  a  woman  now,  despite  her  jaunty  boy's  clothes, 
shrank  from  him.  It  was  not  until  the  big  sergeant  re 
leased  her  and  turned  away  to  deliver  his  captain's 
order  that  she  awoke  to  frantic  futile  action.  In  turn 
she  seized  the  sergeant  to  delay  him  and  desperately 
appealed  to  the  captain. 

"No,"  she  pleaded,  her  voice  rising  to  the  shrill 
cadences  of  a  frightened  woman,  which  would  have 
betrayed  her  to  a  man  less  blinded  by  his  passion  than 


2O2  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


the  captain,  "no,  you  won't  do  that.  You  can't  do 
that." 

"  Can  I  not?  "  was  the  grim  answer.  "  I  am  master 
here.  You  shall  see." 

"But  I  am  only  a  boy  —  I  —  you  could  not  hurt  me 
— you  would  not " 

"Aye,  that  I  would  and  gladly,  boy  though  you 
are." 

"He  was  man  enough  to  bite  through  my  hand, 
excellency,"  growled  the  sergeant. 

"Quite  so.  He  has  tasted  blood,  the  young  tiger 
cub.  We'll  let  a  little  more  of  it  out  of  him.  Go, 
Sergeant." 

"Oh,  for  the  love  of  God,  wait,"  screamed  the  fran 
tic  girl.  "  Have  mercy.  You  may  seek  it  yourself  some 
day.  Captain  Clough  will  make  you  pay  if  you  do  this, 
he " 

But  the  allusion  was  an  unfortunate  one.  Captain 
Cueto  recalled  all  he  had  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the 
American.  With  a  Spanish  oath  he  gritted  out. 

"  I  owe  that  pig  of  an  Americano  a  score.  In  part 
I  can  pay  it  on  your  back." 

"  But  he  will  exact  fearful  vengeance.    He  loves  me." 

"  '  Loves  you ! ' ' '  repeated  the  captain,  in  some  sur 
prise,  and  then  he  laughed.  "  Fool !  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  Men  should  love  women,  not  boys.  As  for  his  ven 
geance,  you  have  a  proverb  I  think,  '  First  catch  your 
hare,'  and  in  Spanish  we  have  a  similar  one,  ' Entrampa 
primiero  su  liebre  antes  que  gulsarlo.'  But  I  have 
trifled  too  long  with  a  mere  boy.  I  promise  myself 
much  pleasure  and  some  alleviation  to  these  hurts  to 


Brave  but  a  Woman  203 

my  pride  and  my  person  in  seeing  you  writhe  and  bleed 
under  the  lash." 

He  nodded  to  the  sergeant,  who  at  once  left  the 
cabin,  easily  avoiding  the  girl's  effort  at  holding  him. 
The  captain  continued,  "Your  friends  will,  doubtless, 
guess  what  is  happening  to  you;  and  it  will  take  away 
some  of  their  joy  in  their  escape." 

The  captain  now  seized  a  napkin  from  the  table, 
poured  some  water  upon  it  and  applied  it  to  his  bruised 
and  bleeding  face.  At  the  same  instant  the  call  of  the 
boatswain  and  his  mates  was  heard  echoing  above  the 
decks  without  the  cabin  as  all  hands  were  summoned  to 
witness  punishment.  The  sound  aroused  the  desperate 
girl  to  action.  The  captain's  attention  to  his  wounds 
gave  her  a  half  opportunity.  She  could  not  fly.  She 
could  strike.  Quick  as  thought  she  seized  the  heavy 
broad-bladed  carving  knife  from  the  table  and  struck 
violently  at  the  captain.  But  for  a  sudden  roll  of  the 
ship,  which  was  caught  at  that  instant  by  a  heavier 
swell,  she  had  killed  him. 

As  it  was  he  barely  evaded  the  first  blow  and,  al 
though  she  struck  and  thrust  at  him  again  and  again 
with  the  fury  of  despair  as  he  leaped  toward  her,  he 
succeeded  in  seizing  her  at  the  expense  of  but  a  slight 
wound.  He  disdained  to  call  for  help  to  master  a 
slender  boy.  Audrey,  however,  was  now  as  mad  as  the 
captain.  She  writhed  and  struggled  in  his  hands.  As 
supple  as  an  eel  she  broke  away  from  him.  The  man 
grappling  for  her  throat  caught  the  collar  of  her  shirt 
and  as  she  wrenched  herself  loose,  the  stout  linen  tore 
from  neck  to  waist. 


204  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Captain  Cucto  stopped  dead.  He  stared  at  the  girl, 
her  womanhood  now  fully  and  unmistakably  revealed 
in  spite  of  the  quick  gesture  by  which  she  drew  the  torn 
pieces  of  the  rent  garment  together  across  her  virginal 
breast,  while  the  color  flamed  into  her  cheeks  again. 

"  A  woman !  "  exclaimed  the  captain,  harshly.  "  Dios 
into,  una  Mujer!"  Then  he  laughed  again  and  his 
laughter  was  more  menacing  and  terrible  than  had  been 
his  threat  of  bodily  violence  of  the  moments  before. 
"A  woman!"  he  repeated,  dropping  his  voice  at  last 

''  Yes,  a  woman,  you  coward.  Even  you  will  hardly 
dare  to  flog  a  woman,"  answered  Audrey,  with  a  sudden 
return  of  her  courage. 

Now  that  the  worst  was  known  she  would  fight  on 
and  in  other  ways  for  her  womanly  heritage. 

"Sefiorita,"  softly  answered  Cueto,  with  an  insulting 
elaboration  of  courtesy,  "  if  you  had  only  spoken 
before " 

"The  officer  of  the  deck's  compliments,  excellency," 
said  a  midshipman,  saluting  as  he  came  into  the  cabin, 
"the  people  are  mustered,  the  grating  is  rigged,  the 
boatswain  and  his  mates  are  ready  for  the  punishment 
of  the  American." 

"  Tell  him  to  dismiss  the  people,  pipe  down  the  watch 
off.  I  have  other  plans  for  the  American,"  was  the 
captain's  answer. 

The  midshipman  cast  a  curious  glance  at  Audrey,  a 
wondering  one  at  his  captain  and  with  the  usual  "  Aye, 
Aye,  sir,"  of  acquiescence  he  retreated  from  the  cabin. 

"What  do  you  mean  to  do?"  asked  Audrey,  when 
they  were  alone. 


Brave  but  a  Woman  205 

"  Senorita,  there  are  other  ways  of  punishing  women 
when  they  are  young  and  charming — "  he  bowed 
with  a  manner  he  thought  and  meant  to  be  engaging  but 
which  Audrey  found  hideous  and  appalling.  "  Though 
perhaps  most  women  would  hardly  consider  it  punish 
ment  to  exchange  a  love  like  that  common  American 
pig's  for  mine  —  a  gentleman  of  Spain." 

"Do  you  mean — "  flamed  out  the  girl. 

'You  occupied  the  same  cabin!  Indeed,  I  do  him 
too  much  honor  in  proposing  to  take  his  mistress  for 
my  own." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  meaning  of  that.  Audrey 
slowly  drew  nearer  to  him,  while  he  watched  her  alert 
and  ready. 

"You  can't  understand  a  gentleman,"  she  said,  with 
bitter  contempt.  "He  loves  me  as  I  love  him.  We 
were  in  that  cabin  into  which  you  forced  us,  as  brother 
and  sister " 

The  Spaniard  laughed,  but  the  girl  went  on,  drawing 
slowly  nearer  to  him  as  she  spoke. 

"We  are  to  be  married  at  the  first  opportunity 
and " 

"  Not  after  I  have  done  with  you,"  interrupted  the 
captain. 

And  then  Audrey,  who  had  trembled  and  gone  white 
and  had  begged  for  her  honor  before,  struck  him  in  the 
face  with  all  the  power  of  her  stout  young  arm — for 
all  she  was  a  woman. 

It  was  a  marvelous  transformation. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

THE  ADMIRAL  SUGGESTS  THE  EASIEST  WAY 

NOW  the  two  ships,  the  Esmeralda  and  the  O'Hig 
gins,  had  been  sailing  in  line  ahead,  that  is,  the 
one  immediately  behind  the  other  on  the  same  course. 
Consequently  it  required  no  hard  rowing  to  bring  the 
Spanish  frigate's  dingey  within  hail  of  the  Chilean  flag 
ship.  Indeed,  about  all  that  was  really  necessary  was 
for  the  American  oarsmen  to  keep  the  small  boat  from 
being  driven  off  the  course  by  the  send  of  the  rolling  sea. 

Although  there  was  no  moon  the  night  was  bright 
with  stars  and  Captain  Clough,  who  was  an  expert 
helmsman,  like  all  whalemen,  so  maneuvered  the  boat 
that  finally  she  was  just  in  a  position  to  be  cleared  by 
the  onrushing  Chilean  ship.  It  was  nice  steering  indeed 
and  old  Broadrib  ventured  upon  a  well-deserved  com 
pliment  about  it,  hoping  thereby  to  lighten  the  terrible 
sadness  and  anxiety  of  the  young  officer,  as  the  peril  of 
Audrey  became  more  and  more  apparent  to  him. 

At  the  proper  time,  as  the  O'Higgins  was  bearing 
down  upon  them,  by  Clough's  direction  they  all  raised 
their  voices  and  shouted, 

"  Ship  ahoy  I    Ahoy,  the  ship !  " 

And  then  they  let  forth  a  mighty  yell  for  help  in 
unison.  Now  it  was  evident  to  so  good  a  seaman  as 
Admiral  Cochrane,  that  the  O'Higgins  had  no  chance 

206 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  'Easiest  Way  207 

of  catching  the  Esmeralda  unless  some  accident  occurred 
on  the  other  ship  whereby  her  rate  of  progress  would 
be  diminished,  and  in  the  pleasant  breeze  then  prevail 
ing  such  a  thing  as  the  carrying  away  of  a  spar  was 
almost  unthinkable,  even  for  such  clumsy  seamen  as 
manned  the  other  frigate. 

He  realized  that  he  could  not  prevent  her  from  get 
ting  safely  into  the  harbor  of  Callao  before  morning. 
He  had  held  on  in  pursuit  of  her,  however,  because  that 
was  the  only  thing  to  do  and  because  he  was  already 
maturing  a  plan  for  her  capture. 

In  common  with  the  other  officers  of  his  ship  and 
his  squadron,  he  had  been  surprised  at  the  sudden  out 
burst  of  futile  firing  from  the  stern  chasers  which  had 
been  observed  a  half  an  hour  or  so  before.  Of  course, 
at  the  distance  between  the  two  ships,  it  was  impossible 
to  note  the  departure  of  so  small  a  boat  as  the  dingey, 
and  indeed,  but  for  the  mighty  hail,  the  O'Higgins 
might  have  passed  it  by  in  the  darkness.  But  when 
attention  was  directed  to  it  by  the  shouts  of  the  men, 
it  was  soon  discovered. 

If  he  had  the  least  chance  of  overtaking  the  other 
ship,  the  great  admiral  would  not  have  stopped  for 
anything  or  anybody.  He  was  the  kind  of  a  man  who 
spelled  duty  with  the  biggest  kind  of  a  "D."  Old 
Broadrib  had  said  that  on  one  occasion  a  marine  had 
fallen  overboard  from  Cochrane's  frigate,  in  the  midst 
of  a  howling  gale  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  The  marine 
was  a  good  swimmer.  As  he  came  up  he  waved  his 
hand  eagerly  and  expectantly  at  the  ship.  The  young 
officer  of  the  watch  immediately  prepared  to  heave  to 


2o8  Waif-o-the-Sea 


the  ship  and  called  away  a  quarter-boat.  The  men 
came  tumbling  aft  eager  to  attempt  the  rescue  of  their 
unfortunate  shipmate.  The  storm  was  at  its  height. 
The  sea  was  rolling  tremendously,  the  waves  breaking 
fiercely.  Lord  Cochrane,  who  at  once  assumed  com 
mand,  decided  that  there  was  no  chance  that  any  boat 
could  live  in  such  a  sea  and  that  if  he  allowed  a  boat 
to  be  lowered,  he  would  be  jeopardizing  or  throwing 
away  the  lives  of  a  number  of  men  in  a  vain  effort  to 
save  one.  To  his  experienced  judgment  the  hazard 
was  too  great  for  the  doubtful  end. 

Captain  Cochrane  sternly  ordered  the  boat  kept  fast, 
sent  the  reluctant  men  back  to  their  stations  and  kept  the 
ship  on  her  course.  Other  captains  recognizing  such  a 
risk  would  have  made  the  same  decision,  but  few  would 
have  been  able  to  retain  the  affection  of  their  men  after 
so  doing.  For  men  in  such  a  case  do  not  reason  clearly ; 
their  sympathies  and  affections  are  aroused.  They  only 
see  a  shipmate  afloat  and  no  effort  made  to  rescue  him. 
They  are  prone  to  blame  their  captain. 

In  the  larger  quest  before  him  Cochrane  would  not 
have  hesitated  to  have  sacrificed  a  small  boat  and  her 
crew.  But  there  was  really  no  reason  why  he  should 
not  stop,  and  as  the  boat  had  obviously  come  from  the 
Spanish  frigate  and  as  he  reasoned  that  the  firing  indi 
cated  the  deserters  were  enemies,  and  as  they  might 
have  news,  he  instantly  made  up  his  mind  to  heave  to  his 
own  ship  and  take  them  aboard. 

By  the  time  the  O'Higgins  had  drawn  a  short  dis 
tance  ahead  of  the  dingey,  they  saw  her  shoot  up  into 
the  wind  and  back  her  main  yard.  As  she  slowly  came 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  Easiest  Way  209 

to  rest  the  dingey  drove  alongside  at  the  starboard 
gangway.  Lights  had  been  shown  to  indicate  the  way, 
and,  Clough  in  the  lead,  the  Americans  filed  aboard. 
The  now  useless  boat  was  cast  adrift  as  Rice,  the  last 
one  to  leave  her,  stepped  out  of  her. 

The  flag  captain,  another  Englishman  named  Cros- 
bie,  with  a  group  of  Chilean  officers,  met  them  at  the 
gangway.  He  nodded  as  Captain  Clough  saluted  him 
and,  being  a  man  of  few  words,  simply  said, 

"  Come  aft  to  the  quarter  deck." 

The  little  band  of  Americans  headed  by  the  officers 
of  the  Chilean  flagship  presently  ranged  themselves 
before  the  great  seaman  whose  flag  flew  at  the  mizzen 
of  the  O'Higgins.  Lanterns  were  at  hand  and  in  their 
light  they  saw  a  tall  spare  man,  the  redness  of  whose 
hair  could  be  noticed  beneath  his  cocked  hat,  who  fixed 
upon  them  a  pair  of  fierce,  piercing  gray  eyes  which 
looked  at  them  over  a  big  prominent  nose  which  again 
rose  above  a  square,  determined  jaw.  On  the  whole, 
the  effect  was  one  of  power,  but  the  strong  face  was 
good  to  look  at  for  its  humor  and  its  nobility. 

The  lanterns  were  held  high  by  quartermasters  so 
that  all  parties  to  the  interview  were  plainly  visible  to 
one  another. 

"Who  are  you,  sirs?"  asked  the  great  admiral  in  a 
clear,  strong  voice. 

"We  are  Americans,  sir." 

"  Beggin'  your  honor's  pardon,  one  of  us  is  Eng 
lish,"  burst  out  old  Broadrib,  edging  his  way  into 
the  light. 

"Ah,"  said  his  lordship.     He  fixed  a  quick  glance 


2io  Waif-o-the-Sea 


on  the  latest  speaker.  His  face  broke  into  the  sunniest 
of  smiles.  For  so  grim  a  countenance  it  was  a  trans 
formation.  "As  I  live,"  he  exclaimed,  "if  it  isn't  old 
Bill  Broadrib,  my  best  bo's'n's  mate!" 

"  Which  it's  the  same,  your  honor,  an'  mighty  lucky 
an'  glad  I  am  to  be  aboard  your  honor's  ship  again," 
said  Broadrib,  grinning  from  ear  to  ear. 

"I  am  glad  to  recognize  an  old  shipmate  and  ac 
quaintance,  sir,"  said  the  admiral,  turning  again  to 
Captain  Clough.  "  I  beg  your  pardon  for  the  interrup 
tion.  Will  you  proceed?" 

"He  is  well  worth  recognizing,"  said  Clough,  "for 
a  better  seaman  and  a  truer  heart  I  never  have  come 


across." 


"Nor  I,"  assented  the  admiral.  "I  am  glad  to  see 
you,  Broadrib.  I  need  a  few  like  you  who  know  the 
old  ways.  But  you  were  saying,  sir?  "  he  went  on,  with 
exquisite  courtesy  to  the  American. 

"  We  are  the  survivors  of  the  crew  of  the  New  Bed 
ford  whaler,  Sharon"  continued  Clough.  "  You  doubt 
less  noticed  two  ships  before  the  light  fell." 

"Yes,"  said  the  admiral,  "but  as  one  was,  I  ob 
served,  a  merchant  ship,  I  confined  my  attention  to  the 
other.  I  am  not  mistaken  in  thinking  she  was  the 
Spanish  frigate,  Esmeralda,  am  I?" 

"  No,  your  lordship." 

"And  you  come  from  her?     That  firing?" 

"Was  directed  at  us." 

"  I  see  you  have  a  story  to  tell,"  said  the  admiral, 
pausing  a  moment.  "  Perhaps  you  will  come  below  to 
my  cabin  and  take  a  glass  of  wine  with  me  while  I  hear 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  Easiest  Way  211 

what  you  have  to  say.  I  am  most  interested,  sir,  in 
anything  that  concerns  that  Spanish  ship." 

"We  are  entirely  at  your  service,  sir,"  said  Clough 
promptly. 

The  admiral  turned  and  surveyed  the  little  group  of 
his  own  officers  back  of  him. 

"  Miller,"  he  said  to  the  commander  of  marines, 
"will  you  accompany  us,  and  you,  Captain  Crosbie?" 

"  Gladly,  sir,"  answered  both  gentlemen,  promptly. 

"Any  orders  before  we  go  below,  sir?"  added 
Crosbie. 

"  None,"  said  the  admiral.  "  Keep  the  ship  on  her 
course  and  endeavor  not  to  lose  sight  of  the  Esmeralda. 
Call  me  when  land  is  sighted  in  the  morning,  or  if  any 
thing  happens.  Signal  to  the  rest  of  the  squadron  to 
follow  my  motions." 

"Very  good  sir,"  said  Crosbie,  saluting  and  giving 
the  necessary  orders  to  the  officer  of  the  watch. 

Presently  the  admiral,  the  two  officers  in  the  Chilean 
service,  both  Englishmen  by  the  way,  and  the  four  men 
from  the  Sharon  entered  the  spacious  cabin  of  the  flag 
officer. 

The  O'Higgins  had  been  captured  from  the  Span 
iards  two  years  before.  She  was  a  sister  ship  to  the 
Esmeralda.  She  had  been  fitted  out  for  a  flag  like  that 
vessel  and  the  five  Americans  instantly  felt  at  home  in 
their  new  surroundings.  Wine  and  biscuit  were  pro 
duced.  The  admiral  gracefully  drank  the  health  of 
the  newcomers  and  then  asked  for  their  story. 

Rapidly  Captain  Clough  narrated  the  exciting  and 
dramatic  incidents  which  had  made  the  cruise  of  the 


212  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Sharon  so  remarkable,  the  admiral  interposing  with  a 
shrewd  question  now  and  then,  answered  sometimes  by 
Clough,  more  rarely  by  old  Broadrib.  Rice  and  Storey 
kept  modestly  silent  in  the  background. 

"And  so,"  said  Captain  Clough,  "we  decided  that 
our  best  chance  would  be  to  get  away  from  the  Esme- 
ralda  and  get  ourselves  picked  up  by  your  lordship," 

The  admiral  roared  with  laughter  as  the  dinner 
which  had  resulted  so  disastrously  for  the  Spanish  cap 
tain  was  described  to  him. 

"Gad! "  he  exclaimed.  "I  would  like  to  have  been 
there." 

"  That  was  a  trick  quite  like  some  of  your  own,  your 
honor,"  said  old  Broadrib. 

"  I  never  did  anything  better  myself,"  said  Lord 
Cochrane. 

"That  is  high  praise,  sir,"  said  Captain  Clough, 
"  for  Broadrib  here  has  been  singing  your  praises  over 
six  thousand  leagues  of  sea." 

"Yes,  he  and  I  have  been  in  some  tight  situations 
together.  You  remember  that  day  on  the  Imperieuse, 
Broadrib,  when  we  tackled  the  whole  French  fleet  single- 
handed  in  Basque  Roads?" 

"  Indeed,  I  does,  your  honor,"  laughed  the  old  man. 
"  I've  told  my  shipmates,  here,  all  about  it." 

"  Do  you  remember  the  day  we  took  the  Gamo?" 

"  Do  I,"  said  Broadrib,  reddening  with  pleasure  at 
the  notice  he  was  receiving  from  the  great  man.  "  Why, 
sir,  I've  been  promisin'  to  spin  that  yarn  to  Cap'n 
Clough  an'  these  shipmates  of  mine,  but  I've  never  had 
no  chance  to  do  it  yet." 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  Easiest  Way  213 

"It  isn't  much  of  a  yarn,"  said  the  admiral.  "  We 
ran  the  Speedy  alongside  the  Spanish  frigate  and  got 
so  close  to  her  that  she  couldn't  fire  into  us,  as  we  were 
so  small  we  lay  beneath  her  batteries.  She  couldn't 
depress  her  guns  enough.  Taking  every  man  but  the 
paymaster,  who  stood  by  the  wheel,  we  went  aboard  the 
Spaniard  and  took  her  out  of  hand  after  a  smart  en 
counter.  That  was  all." 

In  this  way  did  the  admiral  refer  to  a  most  astound 
ing  feat  of  arms  in  which  the  little  fourteen-gun  brig, 
Speedy,  with  a  crew  of  fifty  men,  captured  the  thirty- 
two  gun  frigate  Gamo  with  a  crew  of  three  hundred. 
The  Speedy  boldly  sailed  alongside  her  big  antagonist, 
as  the  admiral  had  said,  and  her  men,  with  Cochrane 
in  the  lead,  boarded  the  Spaniard  under  cover  of  the 
smoke  of  her  own  batteries  firing  uselessly. 

"You  forgot  one  little  fact,  though,  your  lordship," 
said  old  Broadrib,  his  sides  shaking  with  merriment 
at  the  recollection. 

"What  was  that?"  asked  the  admiral,  smiling  remi- 
niscently  himself. 

"Why,  you  had  all  us  black  our  faces  so  when  we 
bust  on  the  Spaniards  out  of  the  smoke,  they  thought 
we  was  devils  —  which  some  of  us  was." 

"  I  guess  that  is  one  reason  why  they  call  his  lordship 
El  Diabolo  now,"  said  Miller,  the  fleet  marine  officer 
who  had  already  distinguished  himself  in  many  of 
the  conflicts  between  the  Chileans  and  the  Spaniards 
and  who  had  been  several  times  severely  wounded, 
but  who  always  turned  up  smiling,  ready  for  the  next 
affray. 


214  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"  It  was  hot  work  for  a  while,  old  shipmate,"  laughed 
the  admiral,  with  the  rest.  "  But  we  got  her." 

"Your  lordship  generally  gits  what  you  goes  after," 
said  old  Broadrib. 

"And  I'll  get  the  Esmeralda,  too,"  said  Cochrane 
with  a  sudden  grim  determination,  "  if  I  have  to  cut 
her  out  of  Callao  harbor  from  under  the  batteries  of 
the  forts  and  the  guns  of  all  New  Spain.  She  shall  not 
escape  me.  She  is  the  principal  ship  left  in  the  Spanish 
naval  establishment  and  if  we  can  get  hold  of  her,  the 
rest  will  be  easy." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  her  captured,"  said  Captain 
Clough,  who  had  been  consumed  with  anxiety  to  finish 
the  story  and  tell  the  admiral  about  the  loss  of  the  boy, 
or  the  woman,  but  who  had  not  felt  that  he  could  inter 
rupt  the  great  man  out  of  hand,  "  after  the  way  we  were 
treated;  but  to  be  frank,  sir,  our  interest  is  in  regaining 
my  own  ship." 

"Naturally,"  interposed  Cochrane. 

"But  more  than  that,  the  missing  member  of  my 
crew,  sir,"  continued  the  American. 

"  Oh,  the  brave  boy  whom  you  mentioned !  I  do  not 
see  him,"  commented  Cochrane,  looking  past  Rice 
and  Storey.  "  I  trust  you  did  not  lose  him,  Captain 
Clough." 

"  I  almost  wish  I  had,  your  lordship,"  returned  the 
American,  encouraged  by  the  sympathetic  interest  of 
the  Englishman. 

"How's  that,  sir?" 

"  My  lord,  in  the  struggle  in  the  cabin,  our  plans  mis 
carried  a  little.  Help  came.  I  was  unfortunately 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  Easiest  Way  215 

thrown,  or  fell  rather,  through  the  stern  port,  and  the 
boy  was  left  behind." 

"  That's  bad,"  said  Cochrane,  "  but  it  might  be  worse. 
They  won't  kill  him,  you  know,  whatever  cruel  treat 
ment  they  mete  out  to  him.  And  from  what  you  have 
said,  he's  a  tough  youngster  able  to  take  care  of  him 
self." 

"  I  must  confess,  Admiral,  that  the  boy  isn't  a  boy 
at  all " 

"  What,  sir !  "  exclaimed  Cochrane,  as  clean  hearted 
as  he  was  great,  as  all  sorts  of  suspicions  rushed  into 
his  mind. 

"  My  lord,"  answered  Clough,  promptly  reading  the 
other  man's  thoughts,  "  Miss  Audrey  McRae  is  my  affi 
anced  wife.  She  is  as  sweet  and  pure  as  any  maid  in 
England." 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  my  friend,"  was  the  instant 
reply.  "  This  sad  news  that  you  tell  me  makes  it  the 
more  imperative  that  we  take  the  Esmeralda  at  once. 
And  I  shall  do  it,  believe  me." 

"  Thank  you,  thank  you.    But  meanwhile " 

"The  young  lady  is  in  God's  protection,  sir.  And 
with  His  aid  and  her  own  mother-wit  we  have  good 
warrant  in  hoping  for  her  safety  and  speedy  restora 
tion  to  you.  Meanwhile  let  us  concert  plans  for  our 
attack.  You  have  a  double  interest  and  have  every 
right  to  be  consulted.  Besides,  I  shall  be  glad  for  your 
advice,  sir." 

"An'  if  your  honor  pleases,  there  ain't  no  seaman 
afloat  which  can  give  it  better,  sir,"  broke  in  old 
Broadrib. 


216  Walf-o-the-Sea 


The  admiral  nodded  pleasantly  at  the  old  man  and 
then  turned  again  to  Clough. 

"  You  say  our  people  on  the  San  Martin  caused  the 
loss  of  your  ship  to  the  Esmeralda,  Captain  Clough?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  I  thought  it  particularly  ungrateful  of 
the  Chileans,  since  we  saved  their  lives  from  the  wreck 
of  the  San  Martin,  to  seize  our  ship,  especially  as  there 
wasn't  the  least  bit  of  use  in  it  They  hadn't  a  ghost 
of  a  show  against  the  Esmeralda.  And  if  they  had 
held  their  course  she  might  have  passed  us  by  without 
notice." 

"  Hardly  likely,"  observed  the  admiral. 

"  Of  course,  much  can  be  pardoned  in  men  who  are 
fighting,  as  it  were,  with  a  halter  around  their  necks," 
interposed  Captain  Crosbie. 

"The  fate  of  Chilean  prisoners  is  a  hard  one,"  said 
Major  Miller.  "They  treat  them  like  dogs  when  they 
don't  kill  them  out  of  hand." 

"That  they  do,"  assented  the  admiral.  "And  if  I 
hadn't  threatened  to  hang  the  Spanish  prisoners  I  have 
taken " 

"And  if  you  hadn't  taken  so  many,  sir,"  interposed 
Miller. 

"Yes,"  said  the  admiral.  "The  balance  is  in  our 
favor.  Well,  gentlemen,"  he  continued,  "  although  you 
did  receive  such  hard  treatment  from  the  hands  of 
Captain  Gutierrez  and  the  men  of  the  San  Martin,  I 
think  you  have  come  out  of  it  fairly  well.  I  do  not 
think  the  Spanish  captain  has  any  justification  in  law, 
international  or  otherwise,  for  seizing  your  ship.  She 
belongs  to  you  and  you  have  first  claim  to  her.  It  has 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  Easiest  Way  217 

always  been  my  principle  when  I  had  a  right  to  fight 
for  it  to  the  last  gasp.  And  if,  in  addition  to  a  valuable 
property  right,  there  is  also  a  woman  in  great  peril  to 
fight  for- 

He  shut  his  eyes  as  he  thought  for  a  moment  of  some 
great  fights  he  had  waged  against  power  and  political 
parties  and  flagrant  abuses  in  England,  and  the  many 
times  and  ways  he  had  fought  for  the  brave  woman 
who  loved  him  and  who  was  indeed  worth  fighting 
for. 

"We  intend  to  fight  for  her  and  the  ship,  sir,"  an 
swered  Captain  Clough  earnestly,  putting  the  two  in 
their  proper  relation  as  he  spoke. 

"  There  are  two  courses  open  to  you,"  went  on  the 
admiral,  who  had  a  habit  of  settling  everything  him 
self  in  accordance  with  his  own  wishes. 

"We  would  be  glad  of  your  lordship's  advice  and 
counsel,  sir,"  said  Captain  Clough. 

"And  I  give  it  gladly.  The  first  course  is  to  apply 
to  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  in  Lima,  the 
capital  of  Peru." 

"  We  had  thought  of  that,  sir,  but  that  is  a  slow  and 
a  tedious  way." 

"  Good.  I  also  distrust  the  law  and  lawyers,"  said 
the  doughty  seaman  whose  experience  with  both  had 
been  bitter.  "  Besides,  I  do  not  know  how  you  would 
get  at  them.  General  San  Martin  is  marching  up  the 
coast  with  an  army,  and  everything  is  in  a  state  of  wild 
confusion.  It  would  take  a  long  time  at  best.  You 
know  what  the  law  is,  especially  in  Spanish  America," 
he  said. 


218  Walf-o-the-Sea 


Mr.  Clough  nodded.  He  did  not  really  know,  but 
he  had  heard  something  about  the  law's  delay,  and  he 
had  a  sailor's  distrust  of  any  law  but  that  of  the  sea. 

"And  whatever  we  might  be  willing  to  do  about 
the  ship,  the  lady  can't  wait.  To  deliver  her  at  once 
is  imperative,"  continued  the  admiral. 

"What  is  the  other  course,  sir?"  Captain  Clough 
asked  eagerly. 

"A  very  simple  one,"  answered  Cochrane  coolly. 
"  When  I  go  in  and  cut  out  the  Esmeralda,  as  I  shall 
surely  do,  you  go  in  with  us  and  cut  out  the  whaler! 
Whether  Miss  McRae's  sex  has  been  discovered  or 
not,  she  will  probably  be  on  one  ship  or  the  other,  in 
which  case  one  of  us  will  get  her." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  four  men,  unless  Lord  Cochrane  is 
one  of  them,  are  hardly  enough  for  that,  sir,"  said  Cap 
tain  Clough.  "Although  tnat  is  exactly  the  course  we 
should  like  to  pursue." 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  returned  the  admiral,  much 
pleased  at  the  other's  compliment,  "  that  four  men  such 
as  you  have  shown  yourselves  to  be  are  almost  equal 
to  anything.  But  I  will  grant  you  that  a  prize  like  the 
Sharon  will  probably  be  heavily  manned,  and  in  short, 
I  shall  have  to  lend  you  a  boat's  crew  of  my  own  to 
back  you  up." 

"  Very  good,  sir,"  said  Clough.  "  But  suppose  they 
have  sent  the  young  lady  ashore,  your  lordship?" 

"  In  that  case,  after  we  cut  out  the  Esmeralda,  the 
town  will  be  at  my  mercy.  I  will  force  her  surrender 
to  me,  or  exchange  my  prisoners  for  her,  under  threat 
of  destroying  the  port." 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  Easiest  Way  219 

'You  forget  the  land  batteries,  sir,"  observed  Cap 
tain  Crosbie. 

"  Beggin'  your  honor's  pardon,"  burst  out  old  Broad- 
rib,  "  the  Spanish  batteries  ain't  planted  that  would  keep 
his  lordship  from  helpin'  that  pretty  little  lady,  or  any 
other  feemale  in  distress." 

'  You  see,  Crosbie,"  laughed  the  admiral,  "  with  men 
like  you  and  Miller  and  this  old  shellback,  and  our  gal 
lant  Americans,  one  can  do  anything,  defy  anybody. 
Not  all  the  batteries  in  Spanish  America  will  prevent  us 
getting  that  brave  girl." 

"God  bless  your  lordship,"  cried  Captain  Clough, 
deeply  moved  by  this  sincere  and  heart-felt  decision. 

"Of  course,  you  realize  that  it  is  my  duty  to  point 
out  to  you,"  continued  the  admiral,  with  a  gravity  and 
seriousness  quite  belied  by  the  twinkling  of  his  eyes  at 
the  turn  of  the  conversation,  "  that  the  proper  way  to 
adjust  such  a  difference  is  to  try  it  out  through  the 
Spanish-American  admiralty  courts  and  that  in  taking 
your  ship  and  incidentally  the  young  lady  violently  and 
by  force  you  are  in  effect,  levying  war  on  behalf  of  the 
United  States  against  the  King  of  Spain.  Doubtless 
his  officers  regard  Miss  McRae  as  a  prisoner  of 
war." 

"That  for  the  King  of  Spain,  beggin'  your  honor's 
pardon,"  interposed  old  Broadrib.  "  We've  levied  war 
on  him  an'  bigger  men  than  him,  afore,  your  honor  an' 
me." 

Cochrane  laughed. 

"This  is  somewhat  different,  Broadrib,"  he  said. 

"I  recognize  what  you  say,"  said  Captain  Clough 


220  Waif-o-the-Sea 


instantly.  "  Of  course,  the  legal  way  would  be  the 
proper  one  in  the  case  of  the  ship  if  it  were  only  that, 
but  we  should  be  kept  around  here  for  months.  We 
would  have  to  pay  all  kinds  of  fees  and  in  the  end  we 
might  not  succeed.  But  by  your  lordship's  favor,  Miss 
McRae  makes  all  the  difference  in  the  world.  Prisoner 
of  war  or  not,  I  mean  to  have  her,  or  take  such  venge 
ance  for  her  if  a  hair  of  her  head  has  been  hurt,  as  Spain 
will  not  forget." 

"And  so  do  I,"  cried  the  admiral,  delighted  with  the 
other's  spirit. 

"  Besides  all  which,  the  King  of  Spain  levied  war  on 
us  first  and  we  are  only  taking  back  our  own." 

"Good,"  said  the  admiral.     "That's  the  spirit." 

"  May  I  be  permitted  to  point  out  to  you,  sir,"  began 
Captain  Crosbie  rather  dryly,  "  that  if  we  succeed  in 
this  rather  desperate  undertaking  your  lordship  pro 
poses,  our  Chileans  will  have  all  the  trouble  of  cutting 
out  the  whaler  without  any  of  the  prize  money  which 
might  rightfully  be  ours." 

"  Captain  Crosbie,"  said  Cochrane  sharply,  "  inas 
much  as  the  misbehavior  of  the  officers  and  seamen  of 
the  Chilean  Navy  involved  this  American  officer  and  his 
men,  to  say  nothing  of  the  little  lady  in  this  difficulty,  I 
am  of  the  opinion  that  the  least  we  can  do  by  way  of 
amends  is  to  help  him  to  get  his  ship  back  and  to  relin 
quish  all  claim  for  prize  money  of  any  sort  so  far  as 
the  Sharon  is  concerned." 

"You  will  be  pleased  to  remember,"  said  Captain 
Clough  with  much  spirit,  turning  to  Captain  Crosbie, 
"  that  we  would  never  have  been  in  this  predicament  at 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  Easiest  Way  221 

all  if  it  were  not  for  our  humanity  toward  the  crew  of 
one  of  your  own  ships." 

"  Quite  so,"  said  Cochrane  in  a  manner  which  settled 
discussion.  "  Now  I  am  ready  to  assist  you  to  the  ex 
tent  of  arming  you  and  giving  you  a  cutter  or  launch 
with  a  full  crew  of  good  men  —  and  if  my  Chileans  are 
poor  sailors  they  will  fight  —  and  you  will  be  permitted 
to  take  part  in  the  cutting  out  expedition  on  one  con 
dition." 

"What  is  that,  sir?" 

"That  you  let  me  have  old  Broadrib,  whose  worth 
and  value  I  know." 

"  I  know  his  value,  too,  sir,"  said  Clough  reluctantly. 
"  He's  worth  more  to  us  than  a  boat  load  of  ordinary 
men." 

"Doubtless,"  continued  the  admiral.  "That's  why 
I  want  him." 

"An'  beggin'  your  lordship's  pardon,"  said  old 
Broadrib,  "but  I  promised  to  stay  by  Cap'n  Clough  an' 
my  shipmates  here  till  we  got  back  to  New  Bedford. 
An'  besides,  I  want  to  see  the  lady  safe  with  her  ship 
in  harbor." 

"  I  don't  mean  to  claim  you  permanently,  Broadrib," 
explained  the  admiral,  "but  only  for  the  cutting-out 
expedition.  You  see,  the  brunt  of  the  work  will  fall 
upon  us  who  attack  the  Esmeralda,  a  desperate  under 
taking,  indeed,  gentlemen.  I  have  a  good  crew,  but  they 
want  leadership,  especially  in  an  expedition  of  this  kind. 
Broadrib  here,  who  has  been  with  me  for  years  under 
the  English  flag"  —  the  admiral  stopped  and  bit  his 
lip  as  he  thought  of  his  glorious  days  under  that  flag 


222  Waif-o-the-Sea 


now  forbidden  him  through  no  fault  of  his  own — "  and 
he  would  be  of  the  greatest  assistance.  You  will  prob 
ably  have  a  hot  engagement  on  the  decks  of  the  Sharon, 
but  I  will  give  you  enough  men  to  make  victory  certain 
without  my  old  shipmate." 

Captain  Clough  still  hung  in  the  wind. 

"  Of  course,  I  have  to  accede  to  any  conditions  you 
lay  down,  sir,  but " 

"  Captain  Clough,"  said  the  admiral  impressively, 
"we  are  all  Englishmen  or  Americans  here.  We  speak 
the  same  language,  live  under  the  same  laws,  however 
different  our  governments  may  be,  and  we  worship  the 
same  God  in  the  same  way.  Would  God  there  had 
never  been  any  differences  between  us.  I  am  alone 
here  with  the  exception  of  these  two  gentlemen  and 
two  lieutenants,  a  midshipman  and  a  few  petty  officers, 
and  seamen,  with  four  hundred  Chileans.  The  little 
group  of  Englishmen  and  Americans  have  to  do  every 
thing;  that  is,  in  the  way  of  skill  or  training  or  leader 
ship.  The  others  will  follow  bravely  enough,  splen 
didly,  in  fact,  but  they  have  to  be  shown  the  way.  Do 
you  realize  what  it  is  to  cut  out  a  frigate  like  the  Esme- 
ralda  from  under  the  guns  of  the  forts  of  Callao,  to  say 
nothing  of  those  of  the  smaller  vessels  that  are  in  the 
harbor?  Why,  sir,  the  minute  she  drops  anchor  they 
will  cram  her  with  soldiers  and  they  will  place  her  where 
every  gun  in  the  harbor  bears  on  her.  They  know  we 
want  her  and  they  know  that  with  me  to  want  is  to  have. 
Ordinarily  an  admiral  wouldn't  think  of  leading  a  boat 
party  in  person,  but  I  intend  to  do  it.  You  can  see  what 
stfaits  we  are  in.  You've  got  two  good  men  back  of 


The  Admiral  Suggests  the  ^Easiest  Way  223 

you.  I  can  judge  from  the  look  of  them.  You  see  how 
it  is,  Captain  Clough.  Will  you  lend  me  Broadrib  for 
the  night  in  exchange  for  a  cutter  and  thirty  men  and  a 
freehand?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Clough.  "  Under  the  circumstance, 
I  will,  although  I  don't  think"  —  he  looked  admiringly 
over  at  the  big  British  sailor — "that  I  am  letting  him 
go  any  too  cheap." 

"I'm  glad  to  be  rated  so  high,"  said  old  Broadrib. 
"  I'm  sorry  not  to  go  with  you,  Cap'n  Clough,  but  his 
lordship  here  needs  me,  an'  in  course  I  obeys  his  lord 
ship's  directions." 

"  It  is  understood,  is  it  not,  your  lordship,"  asked 
Clough,  "  that  if  we  get  safely  through  this  under 
taking,  I  am  to  have  Broadrib  back  for  my  run  home  ?  " 

;'You  are,"  answered  Cochrane.  "And  I'll  try  to 
make  up  a  crew  for  you  to  enable  you  to  work  your 
ship  back  to  the  States." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  In  a  way  you  will  be  a  help  to  me  because  your 
attack  on  the  Sharon  will  be  a  diversion." 

"  And  about  bringing  her  out,  sir,  after  we  have  got 
her?" 

''  There  you  are  thrown  on  your  own  resources,"  said 
the  admiral. 

"  Are  you  going  to  bring  out  the  frigate,  may  I  ask  ?  " 

"  I  hope  to,  but  before  I  do  I  Intend  to  turn  her  guns 
on  the  other  ships  in  the  harbor  and  the  forts  and  make 
a  big  killing  of  it.  Well,  it  is  late.  I  have  no  doubt 
you  would  like  to  turn  in.  Captain  Crosbie,  will  you 
see  that  Broadrib  is  berthed  for'ard  with  the  warrant 


224  Walf-o-the-Sea 


officers  ?  And  enter  him  on  the  books  as  our  boYn  tem 
porarily.  The  place  is  vacant,  you  know.  You  can 
take  the  other  two  American  seamen  with  you,  Broad- 
rib.  Captain  Clough,  there  is  a  spare  berth  in  my  cabin 
you  can  have.  And  so,  good  night.  We  shall  be  off 
Callao  in  the  morning  if  the  wind  holds,  and  then  I 
hope  to  make  it  possible  for  you  to  get  your  promised 
wife  and  your  ship  again." 


CHAPTER  XX 

AUDREY  MAKES  GOOD  HER  DEFENSE 

AUDREY  McRAE  had  not  lived  the  hard  life  of 
the  sea,  doing  a  boy's  full  share  of  work,  almost 
a  man's  at  times,  without  developing  a  power  and 
strength  far  beyond  that  of  the  ordinary  woman,  and 
that  many  a  bigger  boy  might  have  envied.  She  was 
terribly  angry  and  excited  when  she  struck  the  Spanish 
captain  in  the  face;  she  was  roused  to  the  utmost  in 
defense  of  her  honor;  her  resentment  was  overwhelm 
ing.  Therefore  she  struck  hard  and  swiftly. 

Captain  Cueto  was  caught  unexpectedly.  He  had 
become  careless  since  his  discovery  of  her  sex.  It  never 
occurred  to  him  that  he  had  anything  to  fear  from  a 
young  woman.  He  was  unsteady  anyway  from  the 
manhandling  of  which  he  had  already  been  the  victim  in 
his  cabin.  He  staggered,  fell  back,  caught  the  edge  of 
the  table,  and  thus  barely  saved  himself  from  another 
bad  fall.  His  weakness  or  unreadiness  gave  the  girl  a 
few  precious  moments  which  she  put  to  instant  use. 

There  was  but  one  way  to  flee.  To  go  out  on  deck 
would  result  in  her  instant  seizure  by  the  crew.  She 
turned  aft,  and  before  her  tormentor  could  prevent, 
she  had  dashed  through  the  open  door  of  the  captain's 
private  cabin,  which  she  slammed  hastily  behind  her. 
The  key  was  on  the  inside  of  the  lock  and  she  instantly 

235 


226  Waif-o-the-Sea 


turned  it.  She  had  not  a  moment  to  spare,  for  the  door 
was  scarcely  secured  before  Captain  Cueto  thrust  vio 
lently  against  it.  The  key  bolt  was  a  frail  barrier  or 
protection.  Another  moment  and  the -determined  ef 
forts  of  the  Spaniard  would  have  broken  in  the  door. 

But  Audrey's  fears  and  hesitations  were  gone.  No 
man  could  have  thought  more  clearly  or  acted  more 
quickly  and  decisively.  On  the  desk  in  the  captain's 
cabin  lay  an  open  case  of  pistols,  charged  and  ready 
for  use.  The  girl  seized  one,  pointed  it  at  the  door  and 
pulled  the  trigger. 

Fortunately  for  Captain  Cueto  he  had  drawn  back 
from  the  door  for  a  final  rush  against  it,  and  the  bullet, 
crashing  through  the  door,  whistled  by  his  cheek  and 
buried  itself  in  the  forward  bulkhead  of  the  cabin.  It 
had  its  effect,  however,  for  the  captain  immediately  got 
out  of  range  of  any  further  shots.  It  gave  him  an 
inkling  as  to  the  character  and  spirit  of  the  woman  with 
whom  he  had  presumed  to  trifle.  To  do  him  justice  he 
could  not  but  admire  the  courage  and  resolution  of  the 
girl,  although  she  had  so  nearly  taken  his  life.  And  it 
made  him  more  determined  than  ever  in  his  pursuit 
of  her. 

Audrey  heard  him  moving  about  in  the  main  cabin, 
and  inferred,  a  little  thankfully,  it  must  be  admitted,  for 
she  was  a  woman  after  all,  that  she  had  not  killed,  and 
probably  not  even  wounded,  her  enemy.  Satisfied  that 
she  had  no  assault  to  fear  for  the  moment,  she  sought 
to  barricade  the  door.  All  the  heavy  furniture  of  the 
cabin  was,  of  course,  screwed  to  deck  and  bulkheads, 
but  by  means  of  chairs,  a  locker  door  which  she  pried 


Audrey  Makes  Good  Her  Defense        227 

off  its  hinges  by  using  the  captain's  sword,  she  did 
manage  to  secure  the  door  so  that  at  least  it  could  not 
be  burst  open  without  giving  her  time  to  defend  it. 

Then  she  reloaded  the  discharged  pistol,  finding  the 
materials  in  the  desk,  and  examined  its  fellow  in  the 
case  to  make  sure  it  was  also  in  working  order.  Next 
she  closed  and  locked  the  port  shutters  to  prevent  any 
entrance  into  the  cabin  by  anyone  dropping  down  from 
the  deck  above.  Having  thus  done  all  possible  for  her 
safety  with  the  means  at  hand  and  under  the  condi 
tions  prevailing,  she  lay  down  in  the  berth,  intending 
to  rest,  but  not  to  sleep. 

Fear  and  excitement  kept  her  awake  for  some  time, 
but  as  nothing  happened,  she  finally  fell  asleep  despite 
her  determination.  It  was  broad  daylight  when  she 
awoke  and  opened  the  port  shutters  for  a  look  out. 
Her  heart  jumped  when  she  saw  land  off  to  one  side 
and  close  at  hand. 

There  were  forts  and  batteries  along  the  shore,  more 
forts  higher  up  and  inland,  while  all  about  were  the 
buildings  of  a  fine  and  extensive  old  Spanish  town.  She 
had  never  made  the  port,  but  she  knew,  of  course,  it 
must  be  Callao  to  which  the  Esmeralda  had  been  head 
ing.  There  were  many  ships  in  the  harbor,  some  of 
them  obviously  vessels  of  war. 

The  way  on  the  Esmeralda  was  very  much  checked. 
She  was  sailor  enough  to  realize  that  the  frigate  was 
under  reduced  canvas  preparatory  to  bringing  to  at  her 
anchorage.  She  had  but  little  way  on,  and  as  she  slowly 
drifted  in  with  the  tide,  a  heavy  frigate  suddenly  came 
into  Audrey's  field  of  vision.  From  the  gaff  end  of  this 


228  Waif-o-the-Sea 


fine  vessel  of  war  the  Stars  and  Stripes  fluttered  out 
bravely  in  the  fresh  breeze  of  the  morning  blowing 
into  the  harbor. 

Audrey  stared  at  it  with  a  love  and  longing  she  had 
not  thought  it  possible  any  sight,  unless  it  were  her 
brave  and  handsome  young  lover  and  protector,  could 
arouse.  The  flag  of  the  United  States  on  one  of  the 
ships  of  war  of  the  Republic!  If  she  could  only  get 
aboard  that  ship  she  would  be  safe  from  Captain  Cueto 
and  the  whole  power  of  Spain  with  South  America 
added.  Audrey  could  swim  unusually  well.  For  a 
moment  she  thought  of  dropping  overboard  through 
the  stern  window  and  trying  for  the  frigate,  but  a  sec 
ond  thought  convinced  her  that  long  before  she  could 
get  near  enough  to  hail  the  American  ship  she  would  be 
overhauled  and  brought  back  to  the  Esmeralda.  She 
instinctively  realized  that  the  Spanish  captain  would  not 
be  easily  balked  of  his  prey,  and  with  a  sigh  of  regret 
she  gave  over  the  half-formed  design. 

Still  the  presence  of  the  frigate  gave  her  a  deal  of 
comfort.  And  she  took  more  comfort  in  the  thought 
that  in  all  probability  her  lover  had  reached  the  O'Hig- 
gins  long  since.  She  knew  him  well  enough  to  be  sure 
that  he  would  sooner  or  later  effect  her  rescue.  And 
from  what  Broadrib  had  told  them  all  about  Admiral 
Cochrane,  she  was  equally  sure  that  he  would  gladly  do 
everything  in  his  power  to  lend  Captain  Clough  efficient 
aid.  She  could  count  on  Broadrib  and  Rice  and  Storey 
also.  She  well  knew  the  spirit  and  enterprise  in  that 
quartette. 

Her  condition,  as  she  reviewed  it  while  the  Esme- 


Audrey  Makes  Good  Her  Defense        229 

ralda  slowly  drifted  in,  was  by  no  means  hopeless.  Her 
problem  was  a  simple  one  —  to  hold  Captain  Cueto  at 
bay  until  she  was  rescued  or  exchanged,  or  until  she 
could  get  word  to  the  American  captain  of  the  frigate 
which  the  movements  of  the  Esmeralda  had  now  caused 
her  to  lose  sight  of. 

She  felt  certain  that  she  had  no  danger  of  any  assault 
to  apprehend  from  the  captain  in  the  day  time.  And 
she  knew  that  now  that  he  had  discovered  her  sex  he 
would  not  subject  her  to  the  threatened  public  flogging 
—  at  least  not  so  long  as  he  had  any  hope  of  winning 
her  affections.  So  her  heart  was  much  lighter  than  it 
had  been.  She  trusted  in  God,  in  Captain  Clough,  in 
his  three  devoted  followers,  in  Admiral  Cochrane,  in 
the  American  ship  in  the  harbor,  in  her  own  wit  and 
courage,  and  in  about  the  order  set  down. 

She  was  hungry  and  very  thirsty,  but  she  possessed 
her  soul  in  what  patience  she  could  until  the  crash 
of  the  anchor  as  it  was  dropped  overboard  and  the 
stoppage  of  the  ship  as  the  flukes  took  ground  and 
the  cable  was  finally  checked,  told  her  that  one  stage 
of  her  adventurous  cruise  was  over.  As  the  frigate 
swung  to  the  tide  she  caught  another  glimpse  of  the 
American  man-of-war,  far  astern,  and  then  of  the  bat 
tered  but  homely  and  familiar  whaler  upon  which  she 
had  passed  through  so  many  adventures  and  aboard 
which  she  had  lost  her  heart.  She  wished  she  were 
back  upon  the  decks  of  the  Sharon  once  more,  her  hands 
on  the  wheel,  Captain  Clough  giving  his  orders,  and 
the  men  busied  about  their  sailors'  tasks. 

She  had  thought  it  safe  to  unbarricade  the  cabin  door. 


230  Waif-o-the-Sea 


though  she  still  kept  it  locked.  After  the  ship  came  to 
anchor  and  had  been  made  snug  alow  and  aloft,  she 
was  not  surprised  to  hear  a  cautious  knock  on  the  door 
and  the  captain's  voice  calling  her. 

"Seiiorita,"  he  began  ingratiatingly  in  English,  of 
course,  "  don't  fire  again.  I  wish  to  talk  to  you.  Will 
you  come  out?" 

"  Speak  on,"  answered  Audrey.  "  I  can  hear  you 
through  the  door." 

She  seized  a  pistol  as  she  spoke,  and  the  Spaniard 
listening  could  hear  her  cocking  it. 

"You  need  not  fear  me,  Seiiorita,"  he  continued 
quickly. 

"  I  don't,"  came  in  swift  interruption,  but  he  went  on 
without  noticing  her  interjection. 

"  I  pledge  you  my  word  that  no  harm  is  intended 
you,  the  word  of  a  Spanish  officer  and  gentleman." 

Now  Audrey  knew  that  the  captain  was  the  one, 
but  she  felt  equal  assurance  that  he  was  not  the 
other.  She  temporized,  therefore,  and  questioned 
him  further. 

"And  after  last  night,  why  should  I  trust  your  word. 
Senor?" 

"  Last  night  I  was  mad.  Today  I  am  sane.  I  want 
nothing  to  do  with  a  woman  who  would  return  bullets 
for  kisses.  I  only  wish  to  get  you  out  of  my  ship  in 
return  for  your  promise  to  say  nothing  of  our  —  ah  — 
little  misadventure,  when  you  are  safe  among  your 
friends." 

Captain  Cueto  was  an  excellent  actor,  especially  when 
it  came  to  deceiving  a  woman.  His  words  were  frank 


Audrey  Makes  Good  Her  Defense        231 

and  satisfactory.  He  seemed  sincere.  Still  Audrey 
sought  further  assurance. 

"  What  do  you  mean  to  do  with  me  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  What  do  you  wish  me  to  do  ?  " 

"  Send  me  back  to  the  Chilean  war  ship  to  Captain 
Clough." 

If  Audrey  could  have  seen  Captain  Cueto's  face 
darken  at  this,  she  would  have  been  not  a  little  enlight 
ened  as  to  his  trustworthiness. 

"That  is  impossible,"  he  answered  quickly. 

"Well,  then  put  me  aboard  that  American  ship  we 
passed. 

"  Gladly.    Open  the  door." 

"  On  your  honor?" 

"On  my  honor,  Senorita;  faith  of  a  gentleman  of 
Spain!  I  shall  call  away  a  boat  instantly  and  myself 
deliver  you  aboard  the  American  ship." 

Taking  the  precaution  to  slip  one  of  the  pistols  into 
the  inside  pocket  of  her  jacket,  and  having  pinned  her 
torn  shirt  together  as  well  as  possible,  Audrey  now 
unlocked  and  opened  the  door.  Captain  Cueto  had 
schooled  his  bruised  face  into  an  expression  of  friend 
liness  and  he  made  no  effort  to  molest  her  at  all.  On  the 
contrary,  with  extreme  courtesy  he  pointed  to  the  cabin 
door  and  requested  her  to  go  out  on  deck.  When 
Audrey  returned  by  demanding  that  he  go  first,  he  shot 
an  eloquent  look  of  mingled  protest  and  injured  inno 
cence  at  her  and  murmured  as  he  obeyed: 

"Alas,  you  do  not  trust  me  after  all,  Senorita." 

And  decidedly  "  after  all "  that  was  true. 

However,  it  appeared  that  the  Spaniard  really  meant 


232  Waif-o-the-Sea 


to  play  fair.  A  boat  was  called  away  and  the  girl  and 
the  captain  took  their  places  in  it  after  it  had  been 
brought  to  the  gangway.  The  big  sergeant  of  marines 
also  went  with  them,  taking  his  seat  in  the  stern  sheets 
near  Audrey  by  Captain  Cueto's  direction. 

"You  are  such  an  exceedingly  spirited  and  danger 
ous  young  lady,"  said  the  captain,  smiling  rather  rue 
fully,  "  as  both  the  sergeant's  hand  and  my  face  can  tes 
tify,  that  it  is  well  to  take  precautions." 

As  the  cutter  rounded  the  bows  of  the  Esmeralda,  the 
Sharon,  near  at  hand,  and  the  American  frigate,  a  mile 
or  so  beyond,  came  into  view.  The  captain  said  some 
thing  to  the  coxswain  of  the  cutter  in  his  box  aft  and 
then  turning  to  Audrey,  explained  that  he  had  given  him 
an  order  to  steer  for  the  American  ship. 

Audrey  could  scarcely  believe  in  her  good  fortune. 
Was  she  to  get  out  of  all  her  troubles  so  easily?  For 
the  moment  she  almost  felt  grateful  to  the  Spanish 
captain. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

A   PROMISE   BROKEN  TO  THE   HOPE 

IT  WAS  not  until  the  cutter  swerved  to  starboard 
and  swung  in  toward  the  gangway  of  the  Sharon 
that  Audrey  realized  the  double  dealing  of  her  captor. 
When  she  exacted  his  promise  to  put  her  aboard  the 
American  ship,  she  referred  to  the  man-of-war,  as  he 
very  well  knew.  Too  late  the  girl  realized  that  while 
he  kept  the  promise  to  her  ear,  he  intended  to  break 
it  to  her  hope.  Constructively  the  Sharon  was  an  Amer 
ican  ship,  though  in  possession,  whether  lawfully  or 
not,  of  the  Spaniards.  And  it  was  by  this  subterfuge 
he  saved  his  honor! 

He  sustained  as  best  he  could  Audrey's  outspoken 
contempt,  pointing  out  to  her  in  a  vain  effort  to  mitigate 
her  anger  that  he  was  literally  keeping  his  word. 

"  Senorita,"  he  pleaded,  "  I  can  not  release  you  now. 
But  you  will  be  unharmed  even  if  a  prisoner  on  the 
Sharon.  I  pledge  you  my  word  to  that " 

"  Your  wordl  "  interposed  Audrey  hotly,  "  and  what 
is  it  worth?" 

"  Much.  You  will  be  on  the  American  ship,  as  I 
promised.  I  shall  keep  faith  with  you.  Senorita,"  he 
went  on  in  English  which  was,  of  course,  entirely  unin 
telligible  to  the  boat  crew,  "  I  was  wrong  about  you  and 
the  Americano.  I  ask  your  forgiveness.  I  prove  my 


234  -  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


honesty  in  this.  I  am  in  love  with  you.  I  am  an  hidalgo 
of  Spain.  I  would  fain  win  your  heart.  You  can  ask 
me  anything " 

"Set  me  free,  then,"  exclaimed  the  girl  passionately. 

"Anything  but  that,  Senorita,"  replied  the  captain 
with  equal  intensity.  "When  I  know  that  you  leave 
your  heart  with  me  —  then  you  may  go,  because  you  will 
return." 

"  Never.  American  women  are  not  won  that  way, 
and  every  hour  of  restraint  stiffens  my  resistance  and 
deepens  my  hatred." 

The  Spaniard's  dark  face  crimsoned  at  these  bitter 
words.  He  controlled  himself  as  best  he  could,  how 
ever. 

"We  shall  see,"  he  replied  simply,  not  seeking  to 
controvert  her  and  adding  these  words  whose  undoubted 
truth,  while  they  failed  to  move  her,  made  her  realize 
the  more  the  desperate  case  in  which  she  stood.  "  Re 
member,  I  could  set  you  ashore,  turn  you  adrift,  give 
you  over  to  the  tender  mercies  of  Callao.  And  be  well 
assured  of  this,  that  in  all  Peru  the  only  being  who 
stands  between  you  —  and  —  you  can  guess  what,  Seno 
rita,  is  myself." 

The  boat  being  now  alongside  the  whaler  in  obe 
dience  to  his  order,  Audrey  scrambled  up  the  battens 
to  the  deck,  the  captain  following  her.  He  thus  ad 
dressed  Lieutenant  Morelos,  who  had  the  deck  and 
was  in  command  of  the  prize: 

"Senor,  you  will  hold  this  lady " 

"Lady!"  exclaimed  Morelos  in  his  astonishment  at 
the  unexpected  revelation. 


A  Promise  Broken  to  the  Hope          235 

"  The  boy  is  become  a  woman.  We  were  all  fooled. 
But  we  shall  be  no  longer.  I  have  sent  ashore  for  dress 
suited  to  her  sex;  when  it  reaches  this  ship  she  will  dis 
card  these  boy's  clothes  for  it." 

".Never,"  exclaimed  Audrey,  who  somehow  felt 
more  able  to  face  the  world  and  overcome  its  dangers 
in  the  clothes  she  wore  rather  than  in  the  unfamiliar 
gowns  of  her  sex. 

"  Lieutenant  Morelos,  this  lady  is  absolutely  in  your 
charge,"  continued  the  captain,  making  no  other  answer 
to  Audrey's  outburst.  "  She  is  to  have  the  exclusive 
use  of  the  captain's  cabin.  She  is  to  have  the  freedom 
of  the  quarter  deck  at  reasonable  hours.  You  will 
guard  her  person  carefully,  at  the  same  time  holding  her 
in  the  deepest  respect.  She  is — "  he  paused  a  moment, 
"my  property." 

Audrey  stamped  her  foot  upon  the  deck  in  futile  and 
indignant  protest. 

"  I  shall  obey  your  excellency's  orders,"  answered 
Morelos,  bowing. 

"  Good.  Escort  the  lady  to  her  cabin  and  rejoin  me 
here." 

Presently,  while  Audrey  reluctantly  followed  More 
los,  and  Captain  Cueto  waited  idly  on  the  quarter  deck 
of  the  whaler,  the  signal  midshipman  of  the  prize  crew 
came  aft  and,  respectfully  saluting,  informed  his  cap 
tain  that  the  Esmeralda  had  signaled  a  message  to 
him. 

"What  is  it?" 

'  You  have  guests,  excellency  —  ladies." 

"  Reply  that  I  shall  come  aboard  in  a  short  time  and 


236  Waif-o-the-Sea 


ask  them  to  be  good  enough  to  await  me,"  said  Cueto, 
his  face  darkening  again. 

It  was  apparent  that  he  neither  wished  for  nor  re 
joiced  in  the  presence  of  these  ladies  aboard  the  Esmer- 
alda  at  that  time,  whoever  they  might  be.  Indeed,  there 
was  no  uncertainty  in  his  mind  as  to  their  identity. 
Donna  Inez  Pacheco  and  her  duenna  would  certainly 
come  to  him  at  the  earliest  moment,  provided  he  did 
not  go  to  her.  For  Captain  Cueto  was  completely 
involved  in  an  affair  with  Donna  Inez,  a  wealthy  and 
beautiful  young  widow  of  Peru.  He  had  fallen  deeply 
in  love  with  her,  and  had  been  true  to  her  in  thought 
and  act  until  Audrey,  so  bewitchingly  different  from  all 
the  women  he  had  hitherto  met,  had  crossed  his  course. 
And  so  perhaps  he  would  be  when  he  tired  of  the  Amer 
ican  girl.  Captain  Cueto  had  no  intention  of  giving 
up  the  ducats  of  Donna  Inez.  Marriage  with  her  must 
not  be  abandoned.  But  he  was  even  more  ardently 
determined  not  to  resist  his  sudden  passion  for  his  fas 
cinating  American  prisoner.  He  had  a  difficult  role  to 
play;  still,  with  two  ships  on  which  to  play  it,  he  thought 
it  not  an  impossible  one.  And  he  might  have  succeeded 
despite  the  odds  against  him  but  for  treachery  on  his 
own  ship. 

Lieutenant  Suarez,  his  first  officer,  was  also  in  love 
with  Donna  Inez.  He  was  bitterly  jealous  of  his  supe 
rior,  rightly  fancying  but  for  the  other's  higher  rank 
and  station  that  he  himself  might  have  had  a  chance. 
Neither  he  nor  anyone  on  the  Esmeralda  except  the 
captain  was  aware  of  the  true  sex  of  the  seeming  boy. 
He  welcomed  Donna  Inez  and  her  duenna  gladly  and 


A  Promise  Broken  to  the  Hope          237 

explaining  that  Captain  Cueto  had  gone  to  the  Ameri 
can  prize  with  his  solitary  prisoner,  a  ship's  boy,  he 
offered  her  the  hospitality  of  the  Captain's  cabin  and 
sought  to  entertain  her  and  incidentally  kindle  her 
admiration  by  a  vivid,  highly  colored  account  of  their 
adventurous  course,  with,  of  course,  himself  in  the 
leading  role. 

Meantime,  just  after  the  interchange  of  signals,  a 
shore  boat  approached  the  Sharon  and  there  was  deliv 
ered  to  Captain  Cueto  a  large  parcel  from  the  leading 
dealer  in  woman's  apparel  in  Callao,  which  had  been 
assembled  and  sent  off  to  him  in  compliance  with  a 
message  he  had  sent  ashore  so  soon  as  the  frigate 
anchored. 

Bidding  Morelos  keep  close  watch,  the  captain  went 
aft  into  the  cabin  with  the  parcel.  Audrey,  who  had 
been  sitting  on  a  transom  in  the  outer  cabin,  rose  as  he 
entered.  The  captain  laid  the  parcel  on  the  table. 

"These,  Senorita,"  he  began,  indicating  the  parcel 
whose  strings  he  broke,  "  are  a  complete  outfit  for  a 
young  lady  of  your  station  whom  I  honor  with  my  affec 
tion.  You  will  put  them  on  at  once  and  wear  them  here 
after.  Should  anything  be  lacking,  you  have  only  to 
mention  it  to  Lieutenant  Morelos,  who  will  tell  me, 
and  I  shall  see  that  you  get  it." 

"  I  prefer  to  dress  as  I  am,"  answered  Audrey  stub 
bornly,  thrusting  away  the  opened  parcel  with  its  rich 
and  brilliant  articles  of  wear. 

"  I  regret  to  disregard  your  preference,  Senorita,  but 
it  is  my  wish " 

"I  won't  do  it." 


238  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"You  will  immediately  obey  me  or  I  will  detail  a 
boatswain  and  his  mates  to  —  ah  —  assist  you." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  captain's  determination. 
He  would  have  his  way.  It  pleased  him  to  play  the  gal 
lant  in  part.  Perhaps  he  hoped  to  prevail  by  such  arts 
in  the  end.  But  in  the  beginning  it  was  necessary  that 
he  should  let  the  woman  see  that  if  he  willed  he  was 
master.  He  knew  of  no  better  way. 

;'You  would  not  submit  me  to  such  an  indignity," 
said  the  girl. 

"Would  I  not?"  He  drew  out  his  watch.  "If  in 
one  minute  you  are  not  inside  the  cabin  with  those 
clothes,  and  if  in  one  minute  more  you  do  not  pass 
out  to  me  those  you  are  wearing,  I  will  undertake 
the  duties  of  a  lady's  maid  myself,  with  the  assis 
tance  of  such  men  of  the  crew  as  may  be  necessary 
to  subdue  you." 

This  was  the  real  captain  speaking,  his  veneer  of 
courtesy  and  kindness  falling  from  him.  There  was 
no  more  doubt  that  he  had  the  will  than  there  was 
that  he  had  the  power.  Raging  at  her  impotence, 
Audrey  gave  up.  She  did  not  wait  the  expiration 
of  the  appointed  time.  She  seized  the  clothes  and 
fled  to  the  cabin.  In  a  few  moments  she  threw  her 
jacket  and  trousers  through  the  door.  Captain  Cueto 
picked  them  up,  put  them  in  a  locker,  turned  the  key, 
put  it  in  his  pocket,  laughed  triumphantly,  and  went 
out  on  deck.  Thence,  after  repeating  his  caution  to 
his  prize  master,  he  descended  to  the  boat,  was  rowed 
to  the  frigate,  and  dismissing  rather  summarily 
Lieutenant  Suarez,  who  was  comporting  himself  as 


A  Promise  Broken  to  the  Hope          239 

if  he  owned  the  ship,  he  took  Donna  Inez  into 
his  arms. 

He  really  loved  the  hot-blooded,  fierce-tempered, 
jealous-hearted  Spanish  woman.  He  was  genuinely 
rejoiced  to  see  her  again.  His  kisses  lacked  nothing 
that  she  could  wish.  In  his  ardent  protestations  she 
found  no  flaw.  Yet  at  the  same  time  he  was  thinking 
of  the  inaccessible  American  girl  and  wondering  how 
she  looked  in  the  bewitching  dress  of  a  lady  of  Spain. 
He  almost  wished  he  had  stayed  a  little  longer  to  see 
the  results  of  his  commands. 

Donna  Inez  stayed  to  luncheon  on  the  frigate,  and 
then  as  there  was  much  for  Don  Baldamero  to  do  in 
plan  and  execution  for  the  safety  of  his  ship,  he  himself 
took  her  to  shore  in  his  own  first  cutter,  promising  to 
come  to  her  that  evening  for  a  longer  and  happier 
visit. 

Lieutenant  Suarez  had  also  asked  and  received  per 
mission  to  spend  a  few  hours  ashore.  He  had  just 
learned  something  of  importance.  Captain  Cueto  had 
made  one  mistake.  His  conversation  with  Audrey  in 
the  cutter  had,  it  is  true,  been  carried  on  in  English,  but 
he  had  repeatedly  addressed  her  as  "Senorita."  The 
boat's  crew  heard  it,  and  although  there  had  been  no 
communication  between  the  Sharon  and  the  Esmeralda, 
every  seaman  on  the  frigate  soon  knew  that  Audrey 
was  a  woman.  And  it  was  not  long  before  the  news 
reached  the  officers.  Without  saying  anything  to  the 
captain  the  first  lieutenant  interrogated  the  coxswain 
of  the  cutter,  satisfied  himself  that  the  tidings  were 
true,  asked  for  a  short  shore  leave,  went  off  in  the  cutter 


240  Waif-o-the-Sea 


with  the  others,  communing  with  himself  as  to  the 
proper  use  to  make  of  the  facts  to  the  furtherance  of 
his  own  interests. 

Audrey,  dressed  in  an  exquisitely  chosen  Spanish  cos 
tume —  the  captain's  taste  was  unexceptionable  and 
his  direction  had  been  minute  —  came  out  on  deck 
after  her  solitary  luncheon  and  caught  sight  of  the 
captain's  boat  pulling  in  toward  the  landing.  She  saw 
that  two  of  the  passengers  were  women  and  took  a 
little  comfort  from  that  fact.  She  thought  surely  that 
if  she  could  only  reach  a  woman  with  an  appeal  she 
would  be  safe. 

She  was  still  on  deck  when  the  captain's  boat  re 
turned.  He  gallantly  saluted  her.  He  would  fain 
have  boarded  the  Sharon  but  he  could  not  then  spare 
the  time.  There  were  too  many  necessary  precautions 
to  be  taken.  The  Chilean  frigates  were  still  in  the 
offing,  slowly  beating  to  and  fro  across  the  mouth  of 
the  harbor.  The  risk  was  too  great  to  warrant  any 
indifference  or  neglect.  He  contented  himself  by  hail 
ing  her  and  bidding  her  prepare  to  receive  him  late  that 
very  night.  He  would  stop  on  his  return  from  the  city, 
where  he  intended  to  dine. 

Audrey  shuddered  at  the  warning.  Instinctively  her 
hand  went  to  the  bosom  of  her  dress  where,  with  infi 
nite  difficulty  on  account  of  its  bulkiness,  she  had  man 
aged  to  conceal  that  loaded  pistol  she  had  taken  from 
the  captain's  case  and  which  he  had  not  yet  missed. 
In  it  was  her  only  earthly  hope. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

BOLD   PREPARATIONS 

AS  HAD  been  foreseen,  the  O'Higgins  failed  to 
overtake  the  Esmeralda,  which  with  her  unlawful 
prize,  had  got  safely  into  the  Callao  harbor.  The 
O'Higgins  with  the  Independenda  and  the  Lautaro,  the 
other  two  Chilean  war  ships,  established  a  strict  block 
ade  and  for  the  moment  the  admiral  attempted  nothing 
whatever,  although  the  inaction  was  killing  to  Captain 
Clough.  Indeed  it  did  not  seem  possible  that  even 
Cochrane's  daring  and  genius  could  effect  anything  with 
the  odds  so  heavily  against  him. 

The  Spanish  naval  forces  in  the  Pacific  had  been 
reduced  by  capture  and  shipwreck  to  three  frigates; 
two  of  them  were  small  and  of  no  especial  importance 
and  they  were  in  harbors  farther  up  the  coast.  The 
Esmeralda,  however,  a  new  forty-four-gun  ship,  was  a 
formidable  vessel  and  her  existence  was  a  constant 
menace.  If  she  could  be  captured,  the  other  Spanish 
ships  and  gun-boats  could  be  dealt  with  easily.  They 
would,  in  fact,  become  negligible,  and  the  Chilean 
armies  advancing  up  the  coast  to  effect  the  liberation 
of  the  province  of  Peru,  would  be  greatly  helped  in 
their  endeavor. 

Indeed,  the  capture  of  the  Esmeralda  was  vital  to 
the  success  of  the  rebellious  colonists,  and  Lord  Coch- 

241 


242  Waif-o-the-Sea 


rane  was  determined  to  take  her.  All  this  quite  apart 
from  his  gallant  desire  and  determination  to  restore  the 
brave  girl  to  the  young  American  seaman  who  continued 
to  please  his  lordship  greatly.  The  Spaniards  were  as 
keenly  alive  to  the  importance  of  retaining  the  Esme- 
ralda  as  their  enemies  were  for  taking  her.  Although 
no  one  could  see  how  even  the  most  foolhardy  seaman 
would  make  any  attempt  to  cut  her  out  under  the  con 
ditions  prevailing,  yet  they  neglected  no  precaution 
whatever. 

Captain  Cueto,  in  the  intervals  left  him  between  his 
various  and  pressing  love  affairs,  showed  not  a  little 
enterprise  and  skill.  First  of  all  he  reinforced  his  crew 
by  a  large  contingent  of  soldiers  from  the  shore.  Next 
he  moored  his  ship  with  springs  on  her  cables  so  that 
she  could  be  swung  in  any  way  and  her  heavy  batteries 
commanded  the  harbor.  Callao,  as  the  last  good  Span 
ish  port  in  South  America,  was  heavily  fortified.  No 
less  than  three  hundred  guns  were  mounted  in  forts 
and  batteries,  many  of  which  commanded  and  protected 
not  only  the  approaches,  but  the  frigate  herself.  There 
were  thirty  small  gun-boats  in  the  harbor,  each  one  of 
which  was  so  placed  as  to  afford  additional  protection  to 
the  Esmeralda.  There  were  a  few  minor  war  vessels  in 
the  port  as  well,  and  they  too  were  manned  and  armed. 
A  heavy  prize  crew  was  placed  on  the  Sharon,  whose 
name  had  been  painted  out  and  whose  nationality  was 
carefully  disguised  from  the  foreign  ships  of  war.  The 
American  frigate,  for  instance,  had  not  the  least  suspi 
cion  of  the  whaler,  for  her  wrecked  condition  and  jury 
rig  made  it  impossible  to  identify  her  without  a  closer 


Bold  Preparations  243 

inspection  than  the  Americans  had  opportunity  to 
make. 

In  addition  to  these  obvious  arrangements,  a  great 
boom  of  logs  chained  together  and  which  had  been 
previously  prepared  for  such  an  emergency  was  thrown 
across  the  channel  in  front  of  the  Esmeralda  to  pre 
vent  possible  boat  attacks.  Of  course  there  was  an 
opening  in  the  boom,  to  permit  the  passage  of  friendly 
craft,  but  in  that  opening  a  Spanish  guard-boat  with  a 
heavy  crew  was  stationed,  and  it  too  could  be  closed  in 
an  emergency.  Including  the  garrison  of  the  forts,  the 
crews  of  the  ships  and  gun-boats,  there  were  probably 
ten  thousand  men  under  arms  in  Callao. 

Poor  Audrey  in  her  unwonted  Spanish  dress  surveyed 
these  busy  preparations  with  a  sinking  heart.  They 
seemed  to  render  it  so  unlikely  as  to  be  impossible  that 
her  lover  would  ever  rescue  her.  She  could  see  the 
Chilean  squadron  cruising  to  and  fro  in  blockade  across 
the  entrance  to  the  harbor.  She  was  certain  that  Cap 
tain  Clough  was  aboard  the  O'Higgins.  She  knew  that 
he  would  never  give  over  the  endeavor  to  rescue  her. 
She  realized  the  value  to  the  Chileans  of  the  Esmeralda, 
the  absolute  necessity  of  her  capture.  She  could  esti 
mate  Lord  Cochrane's  character  and  enterprise  from 
what  Broadrib  had  told  them  all  in  those  pleasant  and 
unforgettable  hours  on  the  Sharon,  on  which  she  was 
now  a  lonely  prisoner.  But  the  odds  were  too  heavy. 
With  the  best  will  and  the  most  eager  desire  in  the 
world,  both  love  and  courage  and  high  endeavor  could 
not  compass  such  success. 

She  thought  she  would  surely  have  to  depend  upon 


244  Waif-o-the-Sea 


her  own  exertions  to  get  aboard  the  trim  built,  smart 
looking  American  frigate,  and  hence  to  her  lover's 
arms  again.  But  though  she  made  many  plans  none 
of  them  was  possible  of  execution  in  view  of  the  strict 
watch  that  was  kept  over  her,  though  she  did  have  the 
freedom  of  the  deck  and  was  unmolested,  save  for  Cap 
tain  Cueto's  visits,  in  the  cabin.  She  did  not  realize 
that  a  helper  who  was  neither  her  lover,  nor  the  Amer 
ican  frigate,  but  a  woman,  was  close  at  hand. 

To  attack  such  a  force  as  Audrey  noted  with  dismay 
was  available  for  the  defense  of  the  Esmeralda>  Ad 
miral  Cochrane  had  three  ships,  all  of  them  leaky  and 
more  or  less  unseaworthy,  and,  although  the  O'Higg'ms 
had  been  built  for  a  man-of-war  and  was  rated  as  a 
fifty-gun  frigate,  she  would  have  been  no  match  in  her 
present  condition,  had  the  men  commanding  the  respect 
ive  ships  been  equal,  for  the  new  Esmeralda  alone. 

The  Independencia  and  the  Lautaro  were  converted 
merchant  ships,  lightly  built,  small  in  size  and  of  neces 
sity  lightly  armed.  There  were  not  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  men  all  told  under  the  admiral's  command.  Gen 
eral  San  Martin,  who  was  invading  Peru,  was  still  far 
away  and  could  render  no  assistance  whatever. 

The  precautions  they  took  showed  the  healthy  re 
spect  the  Spaniards  had  for  him  they  called  El  Diabolo. 
For  no  one  but  a  man  of  incarnate  courage,  consum 
mate  daring  and  genius  would  have  thought  for  a  mo 
ment  of  cutting  out  the  frigate  so  protected.  Captain 
Clough  would  have  attempted  it,  but  then  he  had  more 
powerful  motives  even  than  the  admiral.  And  after 
all,  aside  from  the  frantic  lover,  Admiral  Cochrane 


Bold  Preparations  245 

was  the  one  man  who  had  the  desperation  to  conceive 
such  an  undertaking,  and  the  boldness  to  attempt  to 
carry  it  out.  Under  a  flag  of  truce  he  had  sent  in  chal 
lenges  to  the  Spanish  commander  to  come  out  and  fight 
him  ship  for  ship,  to  which  no  attention  whatsoever  had 
been  paid.  At  the  same  time  he  had  demanded  the 
return  of  the  boy,  Rey  McRae,  unlawfully  detained ;  and 
as  before  the  Spaniard  did  not  even  deign  to  answer. 

With  the  Admiral's  permission,  Captain  Clough  had 
also  taken  advantage  of  the  flag  to  send  in  word  on  his 
own  account.  He  did  not  challenge  Captain  Cueto  to 
any  bodily  encounter.  He  simply  wrote  him  in  terse 
blunt  words  that  if  anything  happened  to  the  boy  Rey, 
he,  Captain  Clough,  would  kill  him,  Captain  Cueto,  if 
he  had  to  follow  him  to  Spain  to  do  it.  And  when 
Broadrib  and  Rice  and  Storey  learned  what  their 
young  commander  had  written  they  asked  the  privilege 
of  signing  the  letter  on  their  own  account,  which  was 
promptly  accorded  them.  Broadrib  indeed  wanted  to 
make  the  threat  stronger. 

Captain  Clough  also  wrote  a  note  to  Audrey,  relating 
what  he  had  said  to  the  Spaniard,  and  bidding  her  keep 
up  her  courage.  He  wrote  as  if  to  a  boy,  on  the  chance 
and  because  of  the  hope  that  it  had  not  been  discovered 
that  she  was  a  woman.  And  for  that  same  reason  the 
admiral  had  done  the  same  thing. 

Captain  Cueto  laughed  contemptuously  as  he  tore 
up  both  notes  and  threw  them  into  the  sea.  Of  course 
he  did  not  deliver  her  letter  to  Audrey,  and  did  not 
even  mention  that  he  had  received  it  when  next  he  saw 
her  to  prosecute  his  odious  wooing. 


246  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Don  Baldamero  had,  he  thought,  sufficiently  demon 
strated  his  own  courage  in  that  bloodless  battle  out  of 
range  a  few  nights  before  and  he  did  not  purpose  to 
risk  his  ship  any  closer  to  the  O'Higgins  and  her 
doughty  commander  than  he  had  to.  As  for  the  impo 
tent  American,  he  felt  so  secure  he  could  snap  his  fingers 
at  him  and  his  preposterous  threat.  His  trouble  came 
from  another  quarter.  He  could  not  make  up  his  mind 
what  to  do  with  Donna  Inez. 

Admiral  Cochrane  had  not  expected  that  his  chal 
lenge  would  be  accepted,  so  he  went  on  quietly  making 
his  preparations,  and  comforting  the  American  with 
assurances  of  ultimate  success.  To  capture  the  Esme- 
ralda  seemed  an  impossibility  to  the  Chilean  officers 
of  the  squadron,  and  even  the  English  officers  —  every 
body  except  the  three  Americans  and  old  Broadrib,  in 
fact  —  regarded  the  attempt  as  so  hazardous  as  to  be 
absurd.  One  or  two  of  them  actually  ventured  to  point 
out  the  dangers  and  even  the  impossibility  to  the  ad 
miral,  but  no  one  tried  that  a  second  time.  As  Coch 
rane  said,  he  had  been  accustomed  to  achieve  the 
impossible.  And  a  man  who  had  with  a  single  frigate 
attacked  a  dozen  French  ships-of-the-line  was  not  to  be 
halted  by  all  the  Spaniards  in  South  America.  Captain 
Clough  felt  exactly  the  same  way.  He  was  a  man  after 
Cochrane's  heart  and  the  admiral  even  sounded  him  as 
to  the  possibility  of  his  entering  the  Chilean  service  un 
der  him  —  a  suggestion  firmly  but  courteously  rejected 
by  Clough. 

Failing  to  entice  the  Esmeralda  to  come  out  and 
engage  him,  Cochrane  decided  that  he  would  cut  her  out 


Bold  Preparations  247 

at  her  moorings.  This  could  only  be  done  by  a  boat 
expedition.  It  would  have  to  be  done  at  night.  Such 
was  the  confidence  of  the  Chilean  sailors  and  under 
officers  in  their  great  commander  that  when  he  called 
for  volunteers  to  man  the  boats  on  this  preposterous 
adventure,  practically  the  entire  crews  of  the  three  ships 
offered  themselves.  His  lordship  was  thus  enabled  to 
pick  and  choose,  and  he  selected  with  great  care  two 
hundred  and  forty  of  the  best  men,  which  he  purposed 
to  transport  in  fourteen  boats.  There  was  an  addi 
tional  boat  in  the  expedition,  a  launch  capable  of  carry 
ing  thirty  or  more  men.  This  he  gave  to  Captain 
Clough  according  to  his  promise. 

He  appointed  the  night  of  November  5,  1820,  for 
the  attempt.  He  gave  to  Guise,  the  captain  of  one  of 
the  auxiliaries,  the  command  of  one  of  the  divisions  of 
the  boats,  and  to  Crosbie,  his  flag-captain  and  the  com 
mander  of  the  O'Higgins,  the  other  division.  Guise 
had  seven  boats,  Crosbie  six.  Admiral  Cochrane,  with 
the  remaining  boat,  decided  to  lead.  It  was  no  place 
for  an  admiral,  of  course,  hardly  a  place  for  a  captain. 
Such  expeditions  were  usually  carried  out  by  first  lieu 
tenants,  but  Cochrane  loved  to  fight.  Nothing  on  earth 
would  have  kept  him  out  of  it,  and  he  rightly  judged 
that  his  presence  was  worth  a  division. 

Guise  had  been  mutinous  and  rebellious,  Crosbie  was 
not  too  well  affected  toward  the  admiral,  of  whom  they 
were  more  or  less  all  jealous,  for,  having  been  in  the 
service  of  Chile  before  Cochrane  came,  they  resented 
his  appointment  to  command  them;  and  his  lordship  was 
certain  that  if  he  wanted  the  thing  well  done  he  would 


248  PFaif-o-the-Sea 


have  to  oversee  it  himself.  Besides,  as  was  said,  he 
entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  amazing  adventure  with 
almost  boyish  zest  and  joy. 

The  first  boat  of  Crosbie's  division  which  was  to 
follow  the  admiral  was  under  the  command  of  old 
Broadrib.  Following  the  last  boat  of  Guise's  division 
was  the  launch  commanded  by  Captain  Clough  with 
Rice  and  Storey  and  about  thirty  Chileans.  Every  man 
was  armed  with  cutlass  and  pistol.  They  were,  by  Coch- 
rane's  orders,  all  dressed  in  white  with  a  broad  blue 
band  around  the  left  arm.  The  whole  affair  would 
have  to  be  carried  on  in  the  darkness  and  this  would  be 
a  means  of  distinguishing  friend  from  foe.  Cochrane 
himself  was  dressed  just  like  the  rest. 

In  order  further  to  deceive  the  Spaniards,  Captain 
Forster  was  ordered  to  take  the  Independenda  and  the 
Lautaro  out  of  sight  on  the  day  appointed  for  the 
onfall.  And  early  in  the  afternoon  these  two  ships 
clapped  on  a  lot  of  canvas  and  bore  away  westward 
before  a  fresh  breeze  as  if  in  pursuit  of  a  sail,  leaving 
the  O'Higgins  slowly  beating  to  and  fro  across  the 
entrance. 

The  night  before  all  the  preparations  had  been  made, 
boats  had  been  assembled  and  the  cutting  out  party  had 
been  placed  on  the  O'Higgins.  To  cut  out  the  Esme- 
ralda  would  be  a  most  astounding  feat  of  arms,  but 
Admiral  Cochrane's  far-reaching  and  audacious  plans 
did  not  stop  there.  He  had  given  orders  that  on  no 
account  were  the  cables  of  the  ship  to  be  cut.  After 
she  had  been  mastered  by  the  Chileans  her  batteries 
were  to  be  scaled  and  she  was  to  open  fire  upon  the 


Bold  Preparations  249 

gun-boats  and  other  Spanish  ships  of  war  and  merchant 
vessels  and  on  the  town.  The  boarders  had  been  care 
fully  instructed  as  to  which  guns  they  were  to  man  and 
if  they  were  successful  in  taking  the  ship  they  all  knew 
exactly  where  they  were  to  go  and  what  they  were  to 
do.  For  one  thing,  the  admiral  wished  to  give  the 
Sharon  a  chance  to  get  out  of  the  harbor,  for  he  never 
doubted  but  that  Captain  Clough  would  recapture  her, 
any  more  than  he  doubted  his  own  success.  Indeed,  he 
had  become  as  much  interested  in  the  recapture  and 
rescue  of  the  woman  as  in  any  other  success  he  might 
achieve.  All  men  in  the  cutting  out  party  had  been 
cautioned  over  and  over  again  to  look  out  for  a  boy, 
or  a  woman,  on  one  or  the  other  of  the  two  ships  to  be 
assaulted. 

Not  content  with  the  seizure  of  the  Esmeralda,  and 
the  escape  of  the  Sharon,  Cochrane  wanted  to  make  a 
clean  sweep  of  the  harbor.  There  was  another  ship 
at  Callao,  a  Spanish  packet  which  had  recently  arrived 
from  Mexico,  which  was  reputed  to  contain  one  million 
and  a  half  dollars,  which  would  make  a  prize  decidedly 
worth  capturing.  Among  the  other  vessels  in  the  har 
bor  were  two  frigates ;  one,  as  has  been  noted,  flying  the 
colors  of  the  United  States,  and  the  other  those  of  Eng 
land.  The  Macedonian,  so  named  in  honor  of  the 
frigate  captured  from  England  by  Decatur  in  the  war 
of  1812,  was  in  the  command  of  Captain  John  Downes, 
who  had  been  Commodore  Porter's  first  lieutenant  on 
the  famous  Essex  cruise.  The  English  frigate  was 
called  the  Hyperion  and  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Basil  Hall.  The  English  officers,  who  belonged  to  the 


250  Waif-o-the-Sea 


political  party  which  had  persecuted  Lord  Cochrane 
and  forced  him  out  of  England's  service,  were  friendly 
to  the  Spaniards  and  antagonistic  to  the  Chileans. 

The  sympathies  of  the  American  captain,  on  the  con 
trary,  although  he  had  fought  with  England  and  did 
not  naturally  love  the  English,  were  with  the  Chileans, 
who  were  striving  to  establish  a  republic  and  escape 
from  the  domination  of  the  King  of  Spain,  and  conse 
quently  he  favored  Cochrane  also. 

The  lieutenant  commanding  the  boat  party  which 
carried  in  Admiral  Cochrane's  challenge  and  Captain 
Clough's  letters  under  the  flag  of  truce  and  who  had 
incidentally  keenly  noted  all  the  defensive  preparations 
of  the  Spaniards  which  he  had  reported  to  the  admiral, 
had  met  with  scant  courtesy  as  he  passed  close  by  the 
Hyperion.  The  Americans,  on  the  contrary,  had  spoken 
with  the  lieutenant  when  he  pulled  around  on  the  side 
which  screened  him  from  the  observation  of  the  Span 
iards  and  the  Chilean  officer  had  learned  that  arrange 
ments  had  been  made  with  the  Spanish  admiral  in  case 
a  night  engagement  became  necessary,  for  the  foreign 
war  ships  to  hoist  three  lights  in  a  triangle,  one  at  the 
main  royal  masthead,  the  other  at  the  extremities  of 
the  main  royal  yardarms,  so  that  the  Spaniards  would 
not  fire  upon  them  in  the  darkness.  This  was  a  very 
valuable  piece  of  information  which  Lord  Cochrane 
treasured  and  of  which  he  made  good  use  subsequently. 

The  lieutenant  had  also  learned  the  name  of  the 
American  frigate  and  the  name  of  her  commander. 
When  he  came  back  the  admiral  had  immediately  sum 
moned  Captain  Clough  to  his  cabin. 


Bold  Preparations  251 

"  Captain  Clough,"  began  the  admiral,  "  I  have  just 
learned  that  one  of  the  foreign  war  ships  in  the  harbor 
is  an  American.  The  frigate  Macedonian,  so  named, 
I  believe,  because  of  a  victory  your  Commodore  Deca- 
tur  won  over  us  in  the  little  unpleasantness  not  long 
ago,"  continued  the  admiral,  making  a  wry  face.  "  I 
thought  possibly  you  might  know  him  and " 

"  Know  him  !  "  exclaimed  Clough.  "  Why,  I  served 
under  him  as  midshipman  when  —  when " 

"Ah,  when  your  frigate  Essex  was  captured  by  our 
Phoebe,  commanded  by  my  own  good  friend  Hillyar?  " 

"Yes,  sir,"  said  Clough.  "Although,  of  course,  you 
got  us  at  a  disadvantage  and  you  had  the  Cherub  with 
you  and " 

"We  won't  go  into  that,"  said  his  lordship,  who 
knew  quite  well  the  truth  of  the  affair,  but  did  not  care 
to  talk  about  it,  and  as  Captain  Clough's  chances  for 
regaining  his  ship  depended  on  the  continued  kindness 
of  the  Earl  of  Dundonald,  the  American  did  not  at 
tempt  to  pursue  the  conversation  further.  "  What  I 
wanted  to  point  out  to  you,  sir,"  continued  the  admiral, 
"  was  that  possibly  you  might  care  to  refer  your  case  to 
Captain  Downes  who  would,  I  am  sure,  be  glad  to  make 
proper  representations  and  secure  the  release  of  the 
lady  and  perhaps  of  your  ship " 

"  I  am  quite  certain,  your  lordship,"  interrupted  Cap 
tain  Clough,  "  that  Captain  Downes  would  do  anything 
that  any  seaman  could  do  in  behalf  of  the  lady  and  in 
behalf  of  the  Sharon,  but  there  is  no  war  between  Spain 
and  the  United  States  and  the  matter  would  have  to  be 
handled  by  our  state  department.  Jt  would  be  a  matter 


252  Waif-o-the-Sea 


of  diplomacy.  It  would  take  a  long  time  and  I  believe 
your  lordship's  plan  is  the  simplest  way." 

"  Captain  Clough,"  said  his  lordship,  his  eyes  gleam 
ing,  "you  are  a  man  after  my  own  heart.  I  have  had 
enough  difficulties  with  law  and  lawyers  to  make  me 
hate  the  thought  of  them.  We  men  of  the  sword  have 
a  shorter  and  quicker  and  better  way  of  settling  our 
differences.  You  have  answered  me  as  a  man  of  spirit. 
By  heaven,  sir,  as  I  should  expect  a  man  trained  in  the 
American  Navy  to  do.  You've  a  small  navy,  but  as  an 
Englishman  of  the  same  old  stock,  I  am  proud  of  you. 
What  further  preferment  there  may  be  for  you  in  your 
profession  I  do  not  know,  and  these  Chileans  are  broken 
reeds  to  lean  upon.  I  have  got  nothing  out  of  them, 
but " 

"  Glory,  your  lordship,"  suggested  Captain  Clough. 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Cochrane,  easily.  "I  had  plenty  of 
that  before,  but  they  shall  settle  with  me  some  day,  and 
if  you  ever  want  a  friend,  if  you  ever  want  a  position, 
if  you  ever  want  a  commission,  I  desire  you  to  call  on 
me.  Oh,  I  know  you  are  a  rabid  patriot  and  I  honor 
you  for  it,  sir,  but  you  never  know  what  might  happen. 
I  never  thought  to  take  service  under  an  alien  flag," 
went  on  the  admiral,  with  a  tinge  of  bitterness,  "  and 
so  my  offer  stands.  After  we  have  cut  out  the  Esme- 
ralda  and  brought  out  the  Sharon  you  can  explain  mat 
ters  to  Captain  Downes.  I  have  no  doubt  there  will  be 
ample  opportunity." 

"  I  should  be  delighted  to  do  so,  sir,  and  I  shall  feel 
in  duty  bound  to  point  out  to  him  that  your  lordship 
indicated  the  proper  course  to  be  pursued,"  said  Cap- 


Bold  Preparations  253 

tain  Clough,  smiling,  "but  on  my  own  responsibility  I 
chose  the  simplest  way." 

"  Quite  so,"  said  Cochrane,  smiling  in  turn  and  bow 
ing  to  indicate  that  the  interview  was  over. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  the  admiral  caused  the  fol 
lowing  proclamation  to  be  read  to  the  crew  and  volun 
teers: 

Marines  and  seamen  —  This  night  we  shall  give 
the  enemy  a  mortal  blow.  Tomorrow  you  will  present 
yourself  proudly  before  Callao,  and  all  your  comrades 
will  envy  your  good  fortune.  One  hour  of  courage 
and  resolution  is  all  that  is  required  for  you  to  triumph. 
Remember  that  you  have  conquered  in  Valdivia,  and 
have  no  fear  of  those  who  have  hitherto  fled  from  you. 
The  value  of  all  the  vessels  captured  in  Callao  will  be 
yours,  and  the  same  reward  will  be  distributed  amongst 
you  as  has  been  offered  by  the  Spaniards  in  Lima  to 
those  who  should  capture  any  of  the  Chilean  squadron. 
The  moment  of  glory  is  approaching.  I  hope  that  the 
Chileans  will  fight  as  they  have  been  accustomed  to  do, 
and  that  the  English  —  and  the  Americans  —  will  act 
as  they  have  ever  done  at  home  and  abroad.  Remem 
ber  to  look  for  the  American  lady  and  protect  her  at  all 
hazards.  We  do  not  war  on  women. 

The  crew  was  mustered  in  the  waist  and  in  the  gang 
ways,  the  officers  with  the  Americans  on  the  quarter 
deck,  while  the  proclamation  was  read. 

"  It  sounds  a  little  bit  like  Captain  Cueto's  speech, 
sir,"  whispered  Rice  to  Captain  Clough. 

"Yes,"  said  Clough,  "but  this  man  means  business. 


254  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Besides,  you  must  remember,"  he  continued,  "that  he 
is  in  command  of  a  Chilean  ship  and  these  people  expect 
just  that  sort  of  thing." 

That  they  did  expect  it  and  that  they  welcomed  it 
was  evident  by  the  wild  burst  of  cheering  that  followed 
the  reading  of  the  proclamation.  Although  it  was 
read  in  Spanish  the  Americans  were  now  sufficiently 
familiar  with  that  language  to  understand  every  word 
of  it. 

It  also  hugely  delighted  old  Broadrib,  who  as  acting 
boatswain  stood  to  the  fore  of  the  crew  with  his  new 
mates  around  him.  The  old  man,  of  course,  had  been 
relegated  to  his  proper  position  on  the  ship  which  was 
that  of  a  warrant  officer,  as  chief  among  seamen,  but  he 
and  Captain  Clough  and  the  other  Americans  had  en 
joyed  plenty  of  opportunities  to  talk  things  over. 

After  the  muster  was  over  and  the  watch  was  set 
they  again  had  a  chance  for  a  few  brief  moments  of 
conversation. 

"Well,  sir,"  began  the  old  harpooner,  to  his  young 
superior,  "what  did  I  tell  you?" 

"What  did  you  tell  us,  Broadrib?"  asked  the  Amer 
ican  officer. 

"Why,  if  you  once  fell  in  with  Admiral  Cochrane 
we'd  git  our  ship  back  an'  the  little  lady,  an'  everythin' 
would  go  right." 

"Yes,  you  did  say  that." 

"  An'  didn't  I  tell  you  he  was  a  downright  fighter,  a 
reg'lar  fire  eater?" 

"You  certainly  did.  No  one  but  a  man  of  his  stamp 
would  think  of  undertaking  such  an  enterprise  as  cut- 


Bold  Preparations  255 

ting  out  that  ship.  Look  at  her.  Why,  it's  foolhardy 
in  the  extreme." 

"That's  jest  it.  Lord  Cochrane  has  allus  succeeded 
in  doin'  the  thing  that  everybody  thought  was  impos 
sible  an'  nobody  dremp'  it  could  be  done." 

"  Do  you  think  it  can  be  done  ?  " 

"Think?  I  never  thinks  when  his  lordship's 
around,"  said  the  old  man,  "but  if  you  axes  my  belief, 
I  knows  we'll  succeed.  Tomorrer  mornin',  if  his  lord 
ship's  plan  is  carried  out,  that  harbor  will  look  as  if  it 
had  been  visited  by  a  hurricane.  You  an'  Miss  Audrey 
will  be  surveyin'  it  from  the  decks  of  the  Sharon  an' 
we'll  be  lookin'  at  it  from  what's  left  of  the  Esmeralda. 
That  Spanish  cap'n  is  goin'  to  see  a  real  battle  tonight 
at  close  enough  range  for  him  to  do  more  than  smell 
the  smoke  an'  hear  the  guns.  Trust  me." 

"Are  you  going  in  his  lordship's  boat,  Broadrib?" 
asked  Storey. 

"  No  sech  luck,  but  I'm  in  the  boat  right  next  to  his'n 
an'  it  won't  be  long  afore  I'm  by  his  side.  I  told  him 
he  needed  a  few  steady  goin'  men  like  me  to  pertect  him 
in  case  he  got  too  rash  an'  wenturesome.  I  even  pree- 
soomed  to  remind  him  that  he  weren't  no  young  leften- 
ant  no  more,  but  an  admiral." 

"  What  did  he  say  ?  "  asked  Rice. 

"  He  only  laughed  and  said  if  I  could  git  ahead  of  him 
in  boardin'  that  ship  I  was  welcome  to  do  it." 

"Are  you  going  to  try  it?" 

"  In  course,  I'll  try  it,  but  there's  no  more  chance  of 
gittin'  ahead  of  him  than  there  is  of  a  grampus  out- 
swimmin'  a  dolphin.  Well,  sir,  here's  good  luck  to  us 


256  Waif-o-the-Sea 


all,  Cap'n  Clough,  we  for  the  frigate,  you  for  the 
whaler,  an'  all  of  us  for  the  little  lady.  If  we're  lucky,  as 
we  must  be,  you'll  see  me  on  board  agin  an'  then  it'll  be 
square  away  for  New  Bedford  an'  a  weddin'  party.  But 
I  warns  you  jest  the  minute  I  gits  back  an'  stretches  my 
legs  ashore  I'm  goin'  to  head  for  Lord  Cochrane  again. 
He  says  he  wants  me  an'  I  preesoom  he  does." 


C 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

LOVE  OF  MAN  AND  LOVE  OF  WOMAN 

APTAIN  DON  BALDAMERO  CUETO  had 

dined  well,  and  wined  moderately.  He  had  en 
joyed  a  most  satisfactory  evening  with  Donna  Inez  at 
her  charming  villa.  And  it  was  with  extreme  reluctance 
that  he  tore  himself  away  from  her  at  the  comparatively 
late  hour — for  the  place  and  period  —  of  half  after 
ten.  Indeed  he  had  protracted  his  visit  beyond  the  sanc 
tion  of  the  proprieties,  finding  Donna  Inez,  who  was  in 
a  melting  mood  indeed,  more  fascinating  than  he  had 
supposed  she  would  prove  with  his  mind  so  full  of  his 
young  American  captive. 

Yet  as  he  left  the  door  of  the  stately  house  upon  the 
hill  his  mind  reverted  to  Audrey  with  a  new  and  differ 
ent  emotion.  He  would  finish  a  delightful  evening  by 
paying  her  a  visit  later.  He  meant  to  be  happy  with 
both  the  objects  of  his  affection.  He  was  in  high  fettle, 
counting  his  success  in  either  field  in  alternation  a  trib 
ute  to  his  finesse  and  not  in  the  least  incompatible  with 
the  fine  feelings  of  a  man  of  honor.  In  that  Spaniard's 
code  honor  had  no  function  when  one  dealt  with  women. 
Although  he  loved  and  intended  to  marry  Donna  Inez, 
that  did  not  in  the  least  restrain  him  in  his  projected 
amour  with  the  fascinatingly  different  American  girl. 

Americans  had  no  honor  anyway.     Their  men  were 

257 


258  Waif-o-the-Sea 


pigs,  their  women  were  designed  to  give  pleasure  for  an 
hour,  to  be  enjoyed,  used  and  cast  aside.  He  had  been 
too  forbearing  with  the  girl.  The  idea  of  winning  her 
was  an  absurd  one.  Why  should  he  wait  or  hesitate? 
The  wine  he  had  taken  had  somewhat  obscured  his 
judgment  and  altered  his  good  intentions.  With  many 
protestations  of  his  despair  at  leaving  Donna  Inez  he 
went  languishingly  away,  until  out  of  her  sight.  Then 
he  bore  himself  as  jauntily  as  his  condition  permitted. 

Fortunately  an  officer  of  the  Governor's  Guard 
chanced  upon  him.  Captain  Cueto  reflecting  that  it 
was  still  early  and  that  the  night,  like  art,  was  long, 
allowed  himself  to  be  prevailed  upon  to  accept  an  invi 
tation  to  a  little  play  with  a  few  choice  spirits  in  a  room 
in  the  palace. 

There  he  met  his  first  officer,  Lieutenant  Suarez. 
This  gentleman  had  drunk  but  little,  refusing  to  join  his 
brother  officers  of  the  sister  service  in  their  deep  pota 
tions,  and  although  he  was  passionately  fond  of  gaming 
he  had  refused  to  play.  He  had  other  ends  to  serve. 

Greetings  being  exchanged  between  the  two  seamen, 
Suarez,  who  had  been  waiting  this  opportunity  and 
indeed  had  cunningly  contrived  to  get  his  captain 
brought  thither,  excused  himself  on  the  plea  of  an  un 
breakable  engagement  with  a  lady.  After  the  suggest 
ive  mocking  with  which  this  announcement  was  greeted, 
Captain  Cueto  directed  his  junior  to  meet  him  at  the 
boat  landing,  where  the  Esmcralda's  cutter  lay,  at  half 
after  eleven,  when  they  would  go  aboard  the  ship 
together. 

Lieutenant  Suarez   presently   found  himself  under 


Love  of  Man  and  Love  of  Woman       259 

Donna  Inez'  chamber  window,  which  opened  upon  a 
spacious  patio  to  which  he  gained  access  by  a  heavy 
bribe  to  the  major-domo,  to  whom  he  was  indeed  well 
known  as  a  frequent  visitor  of  the  house.  He  had 
made  the  arrangements  for  his  admittance  secretly 
earlier  in  the  afternoon. 

It  was  this  same  confidential  servant,  Jose  by  name, 
who  took  a  little  note  up  to  the  gallery  and  after  knock 
ing  at  Donna  Inez'  door,  thrust  it  across  the  sill  and 
fled.  Donna  Inez  had  not  yet  retired.  Her  mind  was 
filled  with  happy  dreams  of  her  lover.  Captain  Cueto 
was  in  the  prime  of  life,  a  handsome  man,  of  rank  and 
station,  with  a  fine  figure.  She,  the  widow  of  a  rich 
merchant  of  Peru,  was  choosing  wisely  and  well.  It 
had  been  as  easy  as  it  had  been  fitting  for  her  to  fall  in 
love  with  the  captain.  And  with  every  reason  to  urge 
her  on  she  had  developed  a  passion  for  him  that  com 
pletely  took  possession  of  her. 

From  these  pleasant  imaginations  about  her  future 
she  was  aroused  by  the  knock  upon  the  door.  She  turned 
and  caught  sight  of  the  letter  on  the  floor.  To  pick  it 
up,  to  open  it,  to  bring  it  to  the  candles,  to  read  it,  was 
the  task  of  moments  only.  This  is  what  she  saw: — 

One  who  loves  Donna  Inez  as  devotedly  as  hope 
lessly,  and  who  would  not  see  her  deceived,  would  fain 
do  her  a  service.  If  she  will  come  into  the  patio  she 
will  hear  that  which  she  should  know  and  which,  if  she 
do  not  learn  it,  may  break  her  heart.  Fear  nothing. 
Trust  the  writer,  who  can  only  sign  himself  her 

Devoted  Slave. 


260  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Donna  Inez  was  no  longer  an  inexperienced  girl. 
Her  courage  had  been  always  high.  She  was  dowered 
with  all  a  woman's  curiosity.  She  had  been  bred  in  the 
atmosphere  of  intrigue.  To  decide  upon  her  course 
was  the  work  of  another  moment.  She  resumed  her 
mantilla  which  she  had  put  off,  and  taking  the  letter 
in  her  hand,  went  out  upon  the  gallery  instantly  and  at 
once  descended  to  the  garden.  She  crossed  it  to  where 
she  noticed  two  figures  standing  by  the  fountain  in  the 
center  of  the  patio.  One  of  them  she  recognized  at 
once  as  Jose,  her  major-domo.  The  other  man  was 
cloaked  and  had  his  hat  drawn  down  over  his  face. 
Donna  Inez  bade  Jose  step  back  out  of  hearing  but 
remain  within  call,  and  then  questioned  the  stranger. 

"Are  you  the  author  of  this  note,  Serior?" 

Lieutenant  Suarez  bowed  profoundly. 

"Who  are  you?  What  is  your  name?"  continued 
the  woman. 

For  answer  Suarez  dropped  his  cloak,  took  off  his 
hat,  again  bowed  low  before  her  and  stepped  nearer  to 
her  where  the  rays  from  a  solitary  candle  lantern  which 
faintly  illuminated  the  patio  and  garden  fell  full  upon 
his  face. 

"  Lieutenant  Suarez !  "  exclaimed  the  lady.  "  Do  you 
come,  then,  from  Don  Baldamero?" 

"Alas,  lady,"  answered  the  other,  with  well  simu 
lated  melancholy,  "  rather  to  warn  you  against  Captain 
Cueto!" 

"I  will  not  hear "  began  Donna  Inez  indig 
nantly —  "What  is  it  you  would  say?"  she  concluded, 
suspicion  and  curiosity  getting  the  better  of  her. 


26 1 


That  American  on  the  prize 
You  mean  the  boy?" 
Alas,  Seriora,  that  boy  is- 


Not,  not  a  woman  ?  "  flashed  out  Donna  Inez,  divin 
ing  the  meaning  of  the  officer's  significant  pause. 

Suarez  bowed  again. 

"  It  is  not  true,"  exclaimed  the  woman.  "  I  will  not 
believe  it.  Don  Baldamero  was  here  a  few  moments 
since.  He  left  me  with  —  with " 

"  The  lady  is  now  on  the  Sharon,  a  visit  to  that  vessel 
tomorrow  morning  will  convince  you." 

"Why  not  tonight?" 

"  It  might  be  inconvenient.  Captain  Cueto  goes  there 
tonight." 

"And  he  is  your  captain,  you  are  betraying!"  ex 
claimed  Donna  Inez,  changing  her  speech.  "  Senor,  I 
cannot  believe  you." 

"  There  is  something  above  loyalty  to  a  man,  Senora," 
urged  Suarez. 

"And  what  is  that?" 

"Love  for  a  woman,"  burst  out  the  young  officer. 
"  Donna  Inez,"  he  continued,  throwing  himself  on  his 
knees  before  her.  "  I  love  you  passionately.  I  can 
not  see  you  sacrificed  to  him  who  uses  you  for  his  pur 
poses  while  he  is  madly  enamored  of  this  American. 
Give  me  the  right  to  protect  you.  And  I  shall " 

"And  is  she  very  beautiful,  this  American  girl?" 

"  She  is  nothing  beside  you,  beautiful  lady.  No  one 
could  see  her  in  your  presence  but  a  mad  man,  but  Don 
Baldamero " 

"Enough,  Senor.     You  have  warned  me  and  al- 


262  W  aif-o-thc-Sca 

though  I  can  not  believe  I  shall  take  steps.  Now  leave 
me." 

"  May  I  not  hope,  Donna  Inez,  that  you " 

"  If  you  have  told  me  the  truth,  Senor,  I  shall  —  but 
I  can  promise  nothing.  Rise,  Sir,'  and  be  gone.  Good 
night." 

Donna  Inez  could  scarcely  wait  until  Jose,  whom  she 
summoned  by  a  gesture,  had  ushered  Lieutenant  Suarez 
from  the  house,  to  make  her  plans  to  combat  this  re 
ported  dereliction  on  the  part  of  her  lover,  which  she 
contemplated  with  an  ever-growing  jealousy  and  fury. 
If,  indeed,  the  boy  were  a  woman,  that  fact  would 
alone  establish  Don  Baldamero's  unfaithfulness !  What 
had  he  to  do  with  other  women,  anyway? 

Lieutenant  Suarez  left  Donna  Inez  very  unwillingly, 
yet  he  thought  over  the  interview  with  much  satisfac 
tion  as  he  lighted  his  cigarette,  stopped  at  the  inn  for  a 
bottle  of  wine,  in  which  he  now  felt  it  safe  to  indulge 
while  he  waited  for  the  hour  appointed  him  to  join  the 
captain  at  the  landing. 

Old  Jose  having  locked  the  outer  door  found  Donna 
Inez,  shrouded  in  a  long  cloak,  awaiting  him  in  the 
garden. 

"Jose,"  she  began,  "you  were  in  your  youth  a  boat 
man.  You  have  not  forgotten  how  to  handle  the 
oars?" 

"  I  have  not,  my  lady." 

"Can  you  lay  your  hands  upon  a  boat?" 

"  In  the  morning  I " 

"Now.     At  once." 

"  It  can  be  done,  with  money,  my  lady." 


Love  of  Man  and  Love  of  Woman      263 

"  I  thought  of  that;  here  is  my  purse.  Come,  let  us 
hasten." 

"  Senora,"  exclaimed  the  man  in  amazement.  "  You 
can  not  mean  to  take  a  boat,  now,  at  this  hour  of  the 
night." 

"  The  night  is  still.  I  trust  to  your  skill.  There  is 
no  danger.  Or  if  there  be  I  fear  it  not.  Let  us  go." 

"  But  where,  my  lady  ?  " 

"To  a  ship  in  the  harbor,  the  American  ship  taken 
by  the  Esmeralda" 

"To  the  Sharon?"  questioned  Jose,  who  had  re 
joiced  with  all  the  rest  of  Callao  in  the  capture  and  who 
had  ascertained  the  name  of  the  ship  during  the  day. 

"  Exactly.  I  have  pressing  need  to  go  aboard  her  at 
once." 

"  But  not  in  the  night,  my  lady,  surely  tomorrow 
morning " 

"Enough,"  exclaimed  Donna  Inez,  imperiously. 
"Tonight.  Not  another  word.  Open  the  door  at 
once.  Lead  on." 

Half  an  hour  later  a  shore  boat,  rowed  by  old  Jose, 
who  had  apparently  forgotten  none  of  his  skill  and  lost 
little  of  his  strength,  approached  the  Sharon.  By  direc 
tion  of  the  muffled  woman  who  sat  in  the  stern  sheets  of 
the  boat  Jose  approached  the  whaler  at  the  stern. 
Donna  Inez  knew  not  a  little  about  ships.  Her  first 
husband  had  owned  several.  She  had  made  a  voyage 
or  two,  and  her  approaching  marriage  to  Captain  Cueto, 
Don  Baldamero  as  she  called  him,  had  tended  to  revive 
her  interest  in  things  nautical.  She  knew  that  Jacob's 
ladders  usually  hung  from  the  sterns  of  ships  in  the 


264  Waif-o-the-Sea 


harbor,  and  as  she  wished  to  board  the  Sharon  if  pos 
sible  without  observation  she  was  resolved  to  attempt 
to  reach  the  cabin  that  way.  She  knew  of  course  that 
the  American  woman,  if  indeed  Lieutenant  Suarez  had 
told  the  truth,  would  be  quartered  there. 

As  the  boat  rapidly  approached  the  big  ship  Donna 
Inez  told  her  plans  to  Jose,  completely  disregarding  his 
remonstrances.  He  caught  the  Jacob's  ladder,  held  it 
steady  while  Donna  Inez  gathered  her  rather  short 
skirts  about  her  and,  leaving  her  cloak  in  the  boat, 
climbed  up  with  no  little  difficulty  until  she  could  look 
within  the  cabin.  She  saw  in  the  private  cabin  nearest 
her  a  woman  in  a  costume  which  for  richness  and 
beauty  more  than  matched  her  own.  The  woman's 
back  was  turned  to  her.  She  could  not  see  her  face. 
But  what  she  could  see  of  her  figure,  the  golden  crown 
of  short  hair  that  curled  beautifully  about  her  slender 
neck,  carried  the  conviction  of  youth  and  grace  and 
beauty  to  the  older  woman's  heart.  She  swung  on  the 
Jacob's  ladder,  resisting  an  overpowering  impulse  to 
faint  and  fall. 

Then  the  woman  within  walked  out  of  the  private 
cabin  through  the  door  opening  into  the  main  cabin  and 
passed  out  of  view  of  Donna  Inez.  She  had  not  yet 
caught  a  glimpse  of  her  rival's  face.  The  Spanish 
woman  waited  a  few  moments  and  then  drew  herself 
up,  put  her  knee  on  the  port  sill  and  entered  the  cabin. 

According  to  her  orders,  old  Jose  drew  the  boat  for 
ward,  concealed  it  under  the  mizzen  chains,  belayed  the 
painter,  drew  the  discarded  cloak  about  him  and  lay 
down  in  the  stern  sheets,  thinking  to  keep  awake;  but 


Love  of  Man  and  Love  of  Woman      265 

he  was  soon  lulled  into  sound  sleep  by  the  gentle  move 
ment  of  the  boat  in  the  small  waves  cast  up  by  the  soft 
breeze  of  the  balmy  summer  night. 

And  if  old  Jose  had  not  slept,  which  was  not  accord 
ing  to  orders,  what  did  happen  might  not  have  happened 
after  all. 

Audrey  did  not  dare  turn  in  that  night.  The  cap 
tain's  promise  to  pay  her  a  late  visit  drove  all  desire 
to  sleep  from  her.  She  was  deathly  afraid  of  him. 
His  suggestive  promise  had  been  full  of  menace.  She 
wandered  restlessly  about  the  cabin  for  a  long  time, 
wondering  what  she  would  better  do,  what  indeed  she 
could  do.  And  finally  came  to  only  one  conclusion. 
She  could  make  a  better  fight  for  her  life  and  honor  — 
for  the  two  were  inextricably  bound  together,  without 
the  latter  the  former  were  unthinkable  —  as  a  boy  than 
as  a  woman. 

Captain  Cueto  had  hidden  away,  she  knew  not  where, 
the  suit  she  had  been  wearing  when  she  had  gone  aboard 
the  Esmeralda,  and  her  other  good  clothing  of  the  same 
sort  had  been  taken  aboard  the  Spanish  frigate  in  her 
sea  chest  with  her  other  belongings.  But  she  had  dis 
covered  an  old  worn-out  suit  in  a  locker  which  no  one 
had  thought  of  sufficient  value  to  appropriate.  She 
would  put  that  on,  then  with  the  captain's  pistol,  her 
most  precious  possession,  and  her  sailor's  sheath  knife, 
which  she  found  hanging  by  its  laniard  from  a  hook  in 
her  former  cabin,  she  would  make  a  last  fight  for  her 
self  and  for  the  happiness  of  her  lover,  which  was  so 
absolutely  dependent  upon  her  fortune. 

She  left  the  door  of  her  cabin  slightly  ajar  as  she 


266  Waif-o-the-Sea 


changed  her  dress,  and  she  did  not  notice  Donna  Inez, 
who  had  ventured  out  of  the  cabin  on  the  opposite  side 
and  from  a  safe  concealment  behind  the  door  watched 
the  process. 

Donna  Inez  saw  enough.  The  supposed  boy  was  a 
women  without  doubt,  and  some  might  think  her  beau 
tiful.  Donna  Inez  drew  from  her  great  coil  of  hair  as 
black  as  her  rival's  was  light  a  pointed  Spanish  stiletto. 
She  clenched  it  in  her  hands  and  hesitated  whether  to 
rush  into  the  cabin  and  strike  the  woman,  or  to  wait 
until  Don  Baldamero  came  aboard  and  then  confront 
them  both. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

NO  CAUSE  FOR  COMPLACENCY 

DON  BENITO  BALDAMERO  PASCUAL  DE 
LOS  SANTOS  FUENTE-Y-CUETO,  to  give 
him  his  full  name,  was  highly  satisfied,  even  delighted, 
with  his  good  fortune  as  he  broke  away  from  the  gam 
ing  table  upon  the  plea  of  urgent  duty  and  strolled 
through  the  streets  of  the  sleeping  town  toward  the 
landing.  And  the  causes  for  his  pleasure  were  easily 
enumerated.  He  ran  over  them  rapidly  in  his  mind: 

First,  his  love  affair  with  Donna  Inez  was  progress 
ing  satisfactorily.  Whenever  he  would  he  could  make 
the  richest  widow  in  Peru  —  and  that  was  saying  a 
good  deal — his  wife.  Second,  he  had  just  returned 
from  a  successful  cruise  with  a  rich  prize.  He  would 
know  how  to  report  that  fruitless  encounter  with  the 
Chilean  squadron  so  as  to  secure  promotion  and  corre 
sponding  glory.  He  was  already  a  hero  in  his  own 
eyes  and  that  is  the  first  step  to  becoming  a  hero  in  every 
body's  eyes  —  or  the  reverse!  Third,  a  girl  as  differ 
ent  from  the  Spanish  beauty  to  which  he  was  accustomed 
was  in  his  complete  possession,  to  have  for  the  taking. 

Fourth,  the  precautions  he  had  taken  to  guard  the 
ships,  and  to  keep  the  two  women  apart,  had  been  so 
cunningly  devised  that  no  possibility  of  failure  could 
be  discovered.  Fifth,  and  lastly,  his  pocket  was  un- 

267 


268  Waif-o-the-Sea 


usually  full  of  coin,  for  he  had  been  remarkably  and 
unwontedly  fortunate  in  his  play  that  night. 

Certainly  fortune  smiled  upon  him.  Arrived  at  the 
wharf,  he  found  Suarez  awaiting  him  and  the  boat  with 
its  crew  at  the  oars  at  the  foot  of  the  landing  stairs 
leading  down  to  the  water's  edge.  His  greeting  of  his 
first  lieutenant  was  cheery  and  cordial  to  an  unusual 
degree.  The  joy  he  took  in  his  rosy  reflections,  no  less 
than  the  good  wine  of  which  he  had  partaken  without 
stint,  and  the  effect  of  which  was  now  quite  apparent, 
had  mellowed  and  softened  him  to  a  degree. 

As  the  two  officers  embarked,  the  worthy  captain 
could  not  refrain  from  enlarging  upon  the  smiling  as 
pect  of  fortune.  Lieutenant  Suarez  corroborated  every 
statement  or  claim  made  by  his  commander,  and  fer 
vently  congratulated  him,  laughing  in  his  sleeve  the 
while  as  he  thought  complacently  of  the  catastrophe 
which  should  destroy  some  of  the  captain's  hopes  and 
which  would  not  be  long  deferred.  Lieutenant  Suarez 
knew  the  jealous  temper  of  the  Spanish  women  in  gen 
eral  and  of  Donna  Inez  in  particular.  He  was  certain 
that  the  explosion,  to  cause  which  he  had  deftly  laid 
the  train,  would  certainly  take  place  in  the  morning,  and 
it  would  not  surprise  him  to  have  it  occur  that  very 
night.  There  was  no  accounting  for  the  actions  of  a 
jealous  woman.  She  might  even  then  be  on  the  Sharon 
they  were  rapidly  approaching.  He  had  dropped  a 
hint  in  Donna  Inez'  ear  that  Captain  Cueto  intended 
to  visit  that  ship  that  very  night.  It  would  not  be  im 
possible  for  Donna  Inez  to  be  beforehand  if  she  were  so 
minded.  At  any  rate,  that  night  or  tomorrow  morning 


No   Cause  for  Complacency  269 

the  trouble  would  begin,  and  Lieutenant  Suarez  prom 
ised  himself  much  pleasure  and  not  a  little  ultimate 
profit  from  the  outcome  of  the  affair.  His  complacency 
therefore  was  quite  as  great  as,  if  less  in  evidence  than, 
his  captain's  as  the  boat  was  brought  deftly  alongside 
the  gangway  of  the  whaler. 

Captain  Cueto,  directing  his  junior  to  repair  at  once 
to  the  Esmeralda  and  see  that  a  sharp  lookout  was  kept 
in  addition  to  all  the  other  precautions  for  her  safety, 
climbed  up  the  battens  as  nimbly  as  a  younger  lover 
coming  to  visit  his  adored  one,  and  disappeared  through 
the  gangway.  Lieutenant  Suarez,  fairly  chuckling  in 
his  satisfaction,  was  rowed  to  the  Esmeralda,  which  he 
reached  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  before  midnight. 
He  repeated  the  captain's  warning  to  the  officer  of  the 
watch,  rather  perfunctorily,  it  must  be  admitted;  went 
below  and  turned  in  to  dream  of  the  explosion  of  the 
morning  without  the  slightest  anticipation  of  a  greater 
mischance  nearer  at  hand,  the  results  of  which  he  would 
not  be  able  to  enjoy.  An  alien  and  disturbing  factor 
to  bring  to  naught  all  his  carefully  devised  plans  was 
now  close  by.  And  neither  captain  nor  lieutenant  were 
to  luxuriate  long  in  that  hoped-for  good  fortune. 

As  Audrey  came  out  of  her  berth  into  the  main  cabin, 
Donna  Inez  swiftly  and  noiselessly  concealed  herself 
in  the  room  she  had  first  entered,  the  captain's  private 
cabin.  The  Spanish  woman  surveyed  the  restless  move 
ments  of  the  girl,  now  for  all  the  world  a  gallant  boy, 
with  increasing  interest  and  with  no  little  sinking  of  the 
heart.  Audrey  was  so  much  younger  than  she,  so  dif 
ferent;  she  was  so  amazingly  attractive  even  in  the 


270  Waif-o-the-Sea 


loose-fitting  garments  of  a  young  sailor  lad  that  Donna 
Inez  could  easily  understand  her  fascination  for  a  man 
of  her  lover's  type. 

Studying  her  with  the  keen  scrutiny  of  a  jealous 
woman,  Donna  Inez  took  some  comfort  from  Audrey's 
actions,  which  were  not  at  all  those  of  a  woman  expect 
ing  a  lover.  On  the  contrary,  if  Donna  Inez  ever  saw 
fear  and  dread  and  deadly  anxiety  evidenced  by  a 
woman's  look  and  bearing,  she  saw  it  then.  Further 
more,  the  fact  that  her  lighter  rival  had  put  on  the 
clothes  of  a  boy  was  further  evidence  that  she  neither 
desired  nor  intended  to  play  the  receptive  woman  to 
the  captain's  wooing. 

There  was  something  so  strange  and  inexplicable 
about  it  all  that  Donna  Inez  finally  decided  it  would  be 
best  to  wait  a  little  before  discovering  herself.  She 
had  scarcely  come  to  this  decision  when  a  well-known 
voice,  easily  heard  and  recognized  in  the  stillness  of 
the  night,  without  the  cabin  broke  in  upon  her  passion 
ate  thoughts  and  half-formed  purposes.  It  was  he,  she 
thought — Don  Baldamero!  Lieutenant  Suarez  had 
told  her  the  truth,  then.  The  blood  rushed  to  her  heart. 
She  closed  her  eyes  and  clenched  her  dagger.  Now 
she  would  learn  all.  Was  he  unfaithful  to  her?  Did 
he  amuse  himself  with  her  while  he  paid  court  to  this 
white-faced  boy — girl — woman? 

A  fury  indeed  was  Donna  Inez  behind  the  door,  peer 
ing  through  into  the  great  cabin  —  waiting.  She  clasped 
her  dagger  tighter  and  strove  more  desperately  than 
ever  to  control  herself  that  she  might  see  and  hear 
before  she  acted.  Danger,  swift,  imminent,  and  ter- 


No  Cause  for  Complacency  271 

rible  was  menacing  Captain  Cueto,  and  from  more 
sources  than  one,  that  night 

Audrey,  quite  unconscious  that  she  was  not  alone  in 
the  cabin,  heard  him  also.  A  spasm  of  freezing  terror 
that  almost  stopped  her  heart  was  succeeded  by  a  rush 
of  resolution.  Her  breast  throbbed  against  barrel  and 
butt  of  the  small  pistol  pressed  against  her  heart  by  the 
clothes  she  wore.  Before  that  virginal  shrine  should 
be  profaned  she  would  kill  Captain  Cueto  if  she  were 
torn  to  pieces  by  his  men  the  moment  after.  She  would 
play  the  game  to  the  end  like  a  man  and  not  like  a 
woman.  She  was  fighting  for  all  a  woman  could  hold 
dear,  including  her  right  to  give  herself  unspotted  from 
the  world  to  the  man  she  loved.  And  in  her  way  per 
haps  she  was  a  deadlier  foe  even  than  Donna  Inez,  or 
Admiral  Cochrane,  or  the  Chileans,  or  Captain  Clough, 
to  the  unconscious  Spaniard  so  debonairly  exchanging 
the  greetings  of  the  night  with  Morelos,  who  again  had 
the  watch  on  deck  without  the  cabin. 

Though  their  thoughts  ran  like  lightning  through 
the  minds  of  the  waiting  women,  the  crisis  was  not  de 
layed.  They  heard  his  hand  on  the  door.  The  next 
moment  it  opened.  He  entered  and  closed  it  behind 
him. 

He  was  not  an  unattractive  picture  in  the  rich  naval 
uniform  of  his  high  rank.  His  face  was  flushed,  his 
eyes  bright,  his  voice  and  footsteps  unsteady.  But  to 
Audrey,  who  knew  him  as  Donna  Inez  could  not,  since 
the  girl  saw  him  with  clear  vision  while  the  woman 
was  blinded  by  her  affection,  his  rather  handsome  face 
looked  devilish,  satyric. 


272  Waif-o-the-Sea 


He  smiled  as  he  caught  sight  of  her  in  the  well- 
lighted  cabin  and  then  his  countenance  altered  as  he 
noticed  her  changed  dress. 

"You  have  disobeyed  me,"  he  began  severely.  "I 
like  not  this  boy's  dress." 

"  It  was  as  a  boy  that  you  saw  me  first  and  to  you  I 
shall  remain  a  boy  always,"  she  replied. 

"You  mean?" 

"  I  shall  not  be  a  woman  to  you." 

"We  shall  see,"  he  went  on.  "You  are  here  alone 
on  a  ship  that  was  yours  but  is  now  mine.  You  are  in 
my  power.  I  shall  see  that  you  do  not  avoid  me  as 
before.  No  one  will  enter  here  no  matter  what  you  do. 
Will  you  accept  the  inevitable  and  me,  or  shall  I  use 
force?" 

"  Have  you  no  woman  of  your  own  land  the  thought 
of  whom  might  make  you  respect  me  ?  "  asked  Audrey, 
who  was  standing  against  the  bulkhead  just  as  far  from 
the  captain  as  the  size  of  the  cabin  permitted. 

And  the  woman  concealed  within  the  berth  listened 
for  the  answer,  hung  upon  it  as  she  had  never  thought 
to  wait  the  sound  of  human  voice  in  her  life. 

"  Plenty  of  women  of  my  own  race,  of  course.     I 

shall  marry  one  of  them  presently,  but  before  I  do 
«,n   T " 

oU)     1 

He  stepped  toward  her  as  he  spoke.  She  noticed 
the  unsteadiness  of  his  gait.  She  smelled  the  fumes  of 
wine.  Perhaps  she  could  measure  strength  with  him. 
If  she  could  avoid  killing  him,  she  would  be  glad.  She 
was  woman  enough  still  to  shrink  from  that  save  as  a 
last  resort.  She  forced  the  fighting.  She  sprang  at 


No   Cause  for  Complacency  273 

him  before  he  could  seize  her.  She  grasped  at  his 
throat  as  she  grappled  with  him.  Caught  unawares  in 
spite  of  what  he  had  said  about  his  readiness  to  deal 
with  her,  he  staggered  back.  The  table  against  which 
he  brought  up  saved  him  from  a  fall,  gave  him  a  breath 
ing  space.  He  tore  her  hands  from  his  throat.  He 
held  her  off.  He  was  a  strong  man  in  the  very  prime 
of  life.  She  had  miscalculated  the  effect  of  his  drinking. 
The  struggle  tended  to  sober  him.  He  kept  her  at 
arm's  length  in  an  iron  grasp  with  his  two  hands.  He 
laughed  at  her. 

"So,  my  little  spitfire,"  he  began,  "you  have  some 
of  the  passion  of  the  women  of  my  country  after  all. 
But  I  like  you  the  better  for  it.  I  love  you.  Why  strug 
gle  further?  Come !  you  shall  be  my  wife,  if  you  will. 
How  say  you?  In  honor  mine?" 

That  was  the  last  straw  to  poor  Donna  Inez'  burden. 
On  the  instant  she  slipped  out  of  the  door;  soundlessly 
she  moved  toward  the  two,  who  were  still  struggling, 
for  Captain  Cueto's  appeal  had  only  moved  Audrey  to 
fight  the  harder.  She  must  get  free  now,  and  draw 
that  pistol  and  kill  him.  There  was  no  other  way. 

Only,  as  it  was  her  last  resort,  she  must  not  make  any 
mistake.  She  must  be  free  to  use  the  weapon  with 
absolute  assurance,  so  she  struggled  desperately  for 
release,  and  neither  man  nor  girl  saw  the  stealthily 
approaching  woman;  for  Donna  Inez,  too,  must  make 
sure  of  her  aim  before  she  struck.  Finally,  writhing 
like  a  wild  cat,  Audrey,  with  torn  garments,  half  exposed 
to  his  brutal  view,  wrenched  herself  free.  She  stag 
gered  back  and  drew  the  pistol.  The  light  flashed  on 


274  Walf-o-the-Sea 


the  polished  steel  of  the  barrel.  At  the  instant  Donna 
Inez  stumbled  against  a  pitcher  thrown  from  the  table 
in  the  struggle.  Captain  Cueto  heard,  turned  his  head 
to  confront  the  Spanish  fury  with  upraised  dagger. 

And  as  he  sprang  back  he  brought  Audrey  into 
Donna  Inez'  field  of  view.  She  saw  the  American  girl 
raise  the  pistol.  Her  purpose  changed.  Love  was 
stronger  than  jealousy  or  revenge. 

"  Don  Baldamero,"  she  cried  in  terror,  dropping  the 
dagger,  "you  will  be  killed!  " 

As  she  spoke  she  sprang  forward  to  cover  the  cap 
tain's  body  and  shield  him  with  her  own.  And  at  that 
instant  Audrey's  finger  pressed  the  trigger. 

None  of  the  people  in  the  cabin  in  the  excitement  of 
the  tense  moments  had  been  aware  of  a  sudden  tumult 
outside.  From  that  part  of  the  harbor  where  the 
Esmeralda  lay  came  shots,  and  shouts,  and  cries.  On 
the  Sharon  the  sound  of  men  hastily  awakened,  running 
forward,  and  crying  out  as  they  ran  also  broke  the  still 
ness  of  the  ship. 

For  the  moment  Captain  Cueto  was  oblivious  to  the 
tumult.  He  heard  only  Donna  Inez'  scream  of  pain. 
He  saw  only  her  body  upon  the  deck  at  his  feet.  He 
bent  over  her,  truly  appalled  at  this  catastrophe  as 
terrible  as  it  was  unforeseen. 

As  for  Audrey,  the  pistol  dropped  to  the  deck.  She 
covered  her  face  with  her  hands.  Nothing  could  hap 
pen  to  her  now.  She  had  shot  a  woman,  who  lay  dead, 
or  dying,  perhaps,  at  her  feet.  She  hid  her  face  in  her 
hands  and  groaned  aloud.  She  had  shot  a  woman ! 


CHAPTER  XXV 
THE  ADMIRAL'S  AMAZING  EXPLOIT 

THE  night  was  dark  and  moonless;  the  sky  was 
slightly  overcast.  Not  a  star  was  seen.  Nothing 
better  for  their  enterprise  could  have  been  devised.  At 
four  bells  in  the  first  night  watch,  or  ten  o'clock,  the 
men  who  had  been  mustered  on  the  O'Higgins  de 
scended  to  the  boats. 

The  oars  of  all  had  been  muffled  by  wrapping  the 
rowlocks  and  the  oar  handles  with  cloth,  and  in  half 
an  hour,  all  the  boats  having  been  manned  without  noise 
or  confusion,  the  admiral  gave  the  signal  for  the  silent 
advance.  And  it  is  evidence  of  Cochrane's  ascendancy 
over  his  men  that  he  not  only  commanded  silence,  but  he 
secured  it.  He  led  the  way  in  his  own  barge.  With 
him  went  three  junior  officers,  two  English,  one  Ameri 
can,  and  a  number  of  Chileans,  besides  the  boat's  crew, 
who  were,  of  course,  all  South  Americans. 

The  boats  proceeded  slowly  by  the  admiral's  explicit 
direction,  his  own  boat  some  distance  in  the  lead.  He 
did  not  want  his  men  to  row  hard  for  the  long  distance 
between  the  blockading  station  and  the  anchorage.  In 
the  first  place,  it  would  tire  out  the  men;  in  the  second 
place,  it  would  make  more  noise;  in  the  third  place, 
he  himself  had  something  to  do  before  the  rest  of  the 
boats  could  do  anything. 

275 


276  Waif-o-the-Sea 


He  had  carefully  picked  the  crew  of  his  barge  and 
he  felt  supremely  confident  in  his  ability  to  accomplish 
his  own  task  upon  which  so  much  depended.  Not  a 
boat  showed  a  light,  but  they  kept  near  enough  together 
for  the  rear  boat,  which  was  Clough's,  to  distinguish 
the  boat  next  ahead,  and  so  on  along  the  line.  They 
rowed  in  a  long  column,  not  in  line  abreast,  because  they 
knew  they  would  have  to  pass  through  the  narrow  open 
ing  in  the  boom  which  was  only  broad  enough  for  one 
boat  at  a  time. 

They  might  have  blown  up  that  obstruction,  of 
course,  but  the  Esmeralda  lay  some  distance  in  from 
the  boom,  and  an  explosion  would  have  indicated  their 
presence  at  once  and  have  subjected  them  to  the  fire  of 
every  gun  on  the  shore,  and  of  the  frigate,  and  of  the 
gun-boats  before  they  reached  their  quarry.  Such  an 
amazing  enterprise  was  only  possible  if  they  could 
effect  a  complete  surprise,  at  least  at  first. 

Telling  Captain  Crosbie  who  had  command  of  the 
first  division,  to  keep  the  pace  he  had  set,  and  promising 
to  wait  for  him  at  the  boom,  the  admiral  presently  bade 
his  own  oarsmen  take  up  a  quicker  stroke  and  put  a 
little  more  power  into  it.  The  O'Higgms  had  been 
edged  in  pretty  close  to  the  boom,  so  that  the  mile  or 
more  intervening  between  her  and  the  obstruction  was 
soon  passed  over. 

When  he  could  see  the  boom  because  of  the  waves 
breaking  over  it  under  the  force  of  the  tide  and  the 
gentle  breeze  —  it  was  just  at  the  height  of  the  flood, 
by  the  way,  and  Cochrane  had  so  timed  his  advance 
that  he  would  have  the  aid  of  the  full  ebb  to  get  out  of 


The  Admiral's  Amazing  Exploit         277 

the  harbor  when  he  had  done  his  work — he  ordered 
his  men  to  cease  rowing  and  drifted  in  slowly  with  the 
dying  flood. 

Now  there  were  lights  in  the  town,  in  the  Spanish 
forts,  on  the  three  ships  and  on  the  Esmeralda.  Coch- 
rane  had  carefully  taken  his  bearings  from  these.  With 
prescient  eye  he  knew  exactly  where  the  opening  of 
the  boom  was,  and  he  gave  explicit  directions  to  the 
gallant  young  Chilean  midshipman  sitting  in  the  cox 
swain's  box  handling  the  tiller.  Under  Cochrane's 
instruction  the  lad,  who  was  a  great  favorite  of  the 
admiral's,  had  developed  into  an  accomplished  young 
sailor,  and  he  steered  the  barge  perfectly. 

By  Cochrane's  order  the  oars  of  the  crew  were  now 
noiselessly  stowed  inboard,  every  man  had  his  pistol 
out.  Without  a  sound  and  without  a  light  or  anything 
else  to  betray  their  presence,  the  barge  drifted  toward 
the  opening  under  the  momentum  given  it  by  the  last 
few  extra  vigorous  strokes. 

There,  sure  enough,  lay  the  Spanish  guard-boat.  Her 
crew  had  drawn  her  to  one  side  and  tied  her  up  against 
the  boom.  They  seemed  to  be  asleep.  At  any  rate, 
they  kept  negligent  watch.  Nobody  appeared  to  be 
moving  aboard  her.  And  in  fact  it  was  not  until  the 
big  barge  of  the  admiral  glided  quietly  into  the  opening 
and  bumped  alongside  the  guard-boat  that  anybody 
aboard  her  realized  what  was  happening.  When  they 
did  comprehend,  it  was  too  late.  For  they  opened 
their  eyes  to  the  fact  that  they  were  staring  into  the 
muzzles  of  a  score  of  leveled  pistols. 

The  admiral  remarked  in  Spanish  quickly  that  if  any- 


278  Waif-o-the-Sea 


one  uttered  a  sound  or  opened  his  mouth  in  outcry  they 
would  all  be  shot  dead.  In  their  astonishment  and  sur 
prise  they  had  neglected  to  cry  out  when  they  might 
have  done  so,  and  now  it  was  too  late.  El  Diabolo, 
the  terrible,  was  upon  them! 

Hastily  disarming  the  Spaniards  and  piling  their 
weapons  in  his  own  boat,  Cochrane  waited  until  the 
first  division  came  up.  At  the  last  moment,  to  pro 
vide  for  this  very  contingency,  he  had  manned  the 
O'Higglns'  jolly  boat,  or  dingey,  and  after  it  arrived 
with  the  other  boats,  he  transshiped  the  crew  of  the 
dingey  to  the  Spanish  guard-boat,  the  dingey  was  fast 
ened  to  the  stern  of  the  guard-boat,  the  Spaniards  were 
forced  to  take  the  oars  and,  covered  by  the  weapons 
of  the  dingey's  crew,  they  ignominiously  rowed  them 
selves  and  their  amused  and  triumphant  captors  back 
to  the  O'Higgins  in  humiliated  silence.  On  their  arrival 
they  were  made  prisoners  and  stowed  below  in  the 
hold. 

All  this  was  accomplished  without  any  noise  what 
soever.  No  alarm  of  any  kind  had  been  given.  It  was 
astonishing  that  the  admiral  had  been  able  to  teach 
these  Chileans  to  undertake  and  carry  out  such  enter 
prises  without  chattering  like  a  lot  of  monkeys.  No  one 
on  Spanish  ships  or  Peruvian  shore  had  the  least  suspi 
cion  of  what  had  happened  or  what  was  toward. 

This  having  been  so  successfully  attended  to,  Coch 
rane  now  stood  up  in  the  stern  sheets  of  the  barge  and 
asked  quietly  of  the  nearest  boat: 

"Are  we  all  here?" 

Word  was  promptly  passed  down  the  line  in  whis- 


The  Admiral's  Amazing  Exploit         279 

pers  and  a  report  was  soon  returned  that  all  boats  were 
present,  closed  up,  and  ready. 

"Is  the  American  there  also?"  asked  the  admiral. 

Upon  receiving  assurance  as  to  this,  Cochrane  or 
dered  the  boats  under  way  again  and  they  all  rowed 
silently  through  the  opening  in  close  succession.  It  was 
a  peculiarity  of  this  dashing  seaman  that  although  he 
believed  profoundly  in  speed  and  striking  the  blow 
promptly,  he  did  not  do  things  in  any  reckless  hurry. 

As  the  boats  passed  the  now  unguarded  boom,  the 
order  to  rest  on  oars  was  given  and  they  glided  on 
fanwise  into  a  line  abreast  with  slowly  diminishing  mo 
mentum.  When  all  were  through  and  in  position. 
Admiral  Cochrane  attached  himself  to  Crosbie's  divi 
sion,  with  which  he  had  decided  to  attack  the  Esme- 
ralda  on  the  starboard  side.  He  commanded  Guise  to 
make  a  detour  to  attack  on  the  port  side,  which  was  the 
land  side,  and  pointing  out  for  the  last  time  to  the 
American  his  quarry,  the  Sharon,  he  rowed  down  the 
line,  slowly  stopping  before  each  boat  to  address  a  few 
hearty  encouraging  words  to  the  crews  thereof.  And  it 
was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  the  excitable  Chileans 
kept  from  bursting  into  wild  cheers. 

It  was  a  very  dramatic  situation,  this  silent  and 
ghostlike  review  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  inside  the 
boom  and  almost  within  striking  distance  of  the  Esme- 
ralda  and  the  Sharon,  with  their  still  unsuspicious  crews. 
One  thing  the  admiral  particularly  emphasized  was  that 
all  hands  should  look  out  for  the  young  American 
woman,  who  might  be  dressed  as  a  boy.  The  men  were 
enjoined  on  penalty  of  death  to  spare  her,  to  spare  all 


280  Waif-o-the-Sea 


women,  for  there  might  be  many  frail  ones  on  the  ships 
in  the  harbor,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  day,  which 
was  by  no  means  peculiar  to  Spanish  ships,  either. 

It  was  late  now,  nearly  twelve  o'clock.  In  fact,  after 
they  got  under  way  they  heard  the  bells  of  the  churches 
in  the  city  solemnly  striking  the  hour.  They  heard, 
nearer  at  hand,  the  sharper,  quicker,  midnight  couplets 
of  the  bells  of  the  ships  also  —  eight  bells  and  all  is 
well! 

"Slowly  at  first,"  the  commanding  officer  said,  "and 
then,  when  we  get  nearer,  put  everything  in  the  oars 
and  make  a  dash  for  her.  Crosbie,  I  will  board  at  the 
gangway.  Two  of  your  boats  board  over  the  bows,  the 
other  four  at  the  fore,  main,  and  mizzen  chains.  Guise, 
you  follow  the  same  plan  astern  and  to  port.  Captain 
Clough,  you  know  your  own  plan.  Give  way." 

Rowing  gently,  the  fourteen  Chilean  boats  and  the 
launch  approached  the  doomed  ships.  As  they  pro 
ceeded,  a  gap  widened  between  Crosbie's  division  and 
Guise's  as  the  two  captains  headed  in  the  several  direc 
tions  necessary  to  accomplish  their  undertaking.  Away 
off  to  the  left  the  admiral,  who  was  unusually  keen 
sighted,  could  make  out  a  moving  blur,  which  showed 
that  Clough's  boat  was  also  heading  for  its  destination. 

After  about  five  minutes'  slow  rowing,  the  excitement 
of  the  situation  got  into  the  admiral's  blood.  This  was 
like  old  times.  The  fighting  game  was  to  be  played 
once  more.  The  Esmeralda  was  now  close  at  hand. 
Lights  suddenly  moved  on  her  deck.  A  voice  hailed. 

"Give  way  strong!"  shouted  the  admiral  loudly, 
his  pulses  bounding;  for  all  his  age  and  rank  he  was 


The  Admiral's  Amazing  Exploit         281 

once  again  the  gallant  young  man  of  the  Speedy.  The 
next  second  every  man  bent  to  the  oars. 

The  water  whitened  and  splashed  over  the  blades  as 
the  big  boats  jumped  through  the  quiet  sea.  The  barge 
dashed  ahead  of  the  other  boats;  although  all  the  men 
in  the  cutters  and  launches,  especially  in  Crosbie's  own 
boat  the  gig,  in  which  old  Broadrib  pulled  a  strong 
stroke  oar,  put  everything  they  had  into  the  endeavor, 
they  could  not  keep  pace  with  the  picked  men  of 
Cochrane. 

The  hail  from  the  Esmeralda  was  repeated.  More 
lights  appeared;  an  alarm  was  given.  The  next  minute 
the  barge  crashed  into  the  side  of  the  frigate.  A  mus 
ket  shot  rang  out.  More  voices  were  heard  on  the 
Esmeralda's  decks,  more  lights  appeared.  There  were 
sudden  commands,  cries  of  alarm.  Lieutenant  Suarez 
awoke  from  his  dreams  and  seized  his  weapons.  What 
was  happening? 

The  admiral  had  gone  forward  in  the  barge  and  as 
the  boat  struck  the  gangway  he  leaped  for  the  side  bat 
tens.  Before  anyone  else  could  get  out,  he  was  half 
way  up  those  battens  —  pieces  of  wood  nailed  to  the 
side  of  a  ship  to  permit  people  to  climb  to  the  deck  when 
no  ladders  were  dropped  —  and  by  the  time  they  got 
the  boat  secured,  he  sprang  through  the  gangway,  an 
opening  in  the  high  rail,  or  bulwark,  to  admit  free 
passage. 

At  him  a  sentry  came  running.  Cochrane's  pistol 
flashed;  its  bullet  went  true,  but  the  momentum  of  the 
falling  sentry  was  so  great  that  as  he  went  down  he 
struck  the  admiral  with  the  butt  of  his  gun.  Cochrane 


282  Waif-o-the-Sea 


made  a  clutch  at  the  rail,  but  so  terrific  had  been  the 
blow  on  his  chest  that  he  failed  to  catch  it.  He  could 
not  maintain  his  balance  and  he  dropped  fifteen  feet  into 
the  boat  below. 

Unfortunately  he  alighted  on  his  back,  and  one  of 
the  tholepins  —  "U  "-shaped  pieces  of  iron  sticking  up 
on  the  gunwale  of  a  boat  through  which  the  oars  were 
thrust — cut  through  his  clothing  and  pierced  his  back 
near  the  spine,  inflicting  a  terribly  painful  and  somewhat 
dangerous  wound  which  would  have  entirely  disabled 
most  men. 

In  his  excitement  the  admiral  scarcely  noticed  it. 
Fortunately  the  men  in  the  boat  had  broken  his  fall 
somewhat,  or  he  might  have  been  impaled.  They 
dragged  him  to  his  feet  and  with  a  word  of  encourage 
ment  the  intrepid  seaman  prepared  to  ascend  again. 
The  boat  had  drifted  aft  and  was  now  abreast  the 
main  chains  —  a  broad  platform  extending  outside  the 
ship  by  which  the  standing  rigging  of  the  main  mast 
was  given  a  wider  spread.  He  jumped  to  the  chains 
and  others  sprang  with  him.  One  of  Crosbie's  boats 
took  the  place  of  the  admiral's  boat  at  the  gangway. 
The  next  minute  the  whole  side  of  the  frigate  was  alive 
with  men  climbing  up  to  gain  her  decks. 

But  the  Spaniards,  to  give  them  credit,  had  profited 
by  the  few  moments  of  alarm.  Lieutenant  Suarez  was 
a  brave  man  and  he  had  acted  instantly  upon  his  realiza 
tion  that  his  ship  was  attacked,  and  his  officers,  despite 
the  absence  of  their  captain,  seconded  him  well.  The 
decks  of  the  Esmeralda  were  now  filled  with  men  hastily 
arming  themselves.  Aft  on  the  quarter  deck  a  company 


The  Admiral's  'Amazing  Exploit         283 

of  soldiers,  or  marines,  was  hastily  formed  up  for  the 
fight.  Crosbie  and  his  men  burst  on  board  in  the  waist. 
Although  several  of  them  were  shot  down,  the  rest, 
cheered  on  by  the  admiral,  used  their  pistols  with  much 
effect  and  then  fell  to  with  their  cutlasses  so  that  they 
separated  the  Spaniards  and  drove  them  to  either  end 
of  the  ship.  Suarez  with  a  number  of  them  retreated 
across  the  vessel,  and  with  their  backs  to  the  rail,  offered 
a  desperate  resistance.  The  next  moment  Guise  with 
his  division  fell  upon  them. 

By  this  time  the  Esmeralda  was  alive  with  sound, 
shouts,  cheers,  shrieks,  groans,  yells,  pistol  and  musket 
shots,  the  smashing  and  grinding  of  sword  blades, 
words  of  command.  The  noise  awoke  everybody  in 
the  harbor.  A  gun  boomed  out  from  the  citadel  as  a 
signal,  and  while  the  dreadful  conflict  raged  on  the 
decks,  the  Spanish  batteries  and  gun-boats  opened  fire. 
They  did  not  know  exactly  at  what  to  fire  at  first,  but 
presently  realized  in  a  sort  of  despairful  way  that  El 
Diabolo  must  have  somehow  got  into  the  harbor  and 
attacked  the  surprised  Esmeralda. 

They  therefore  fired  on  the  frigate,  dealing  death  and 
destruction  to  friend  and  foe  alike.  Some  of  the  Span 
ish  officers,  half  dressed,  but  armed,  had  been  driven 
to  the  forecastle.  They  made  a  gallant  stand  there,  and 
as  the  crew  poured  out  of  the  fore  scuttle,  for  a  moment 
things  looked  encouraging,  but  Cochrane  in  person  led 
a  charge  upon  them. 

Old  Broadrib  had  finally  got  to  his  commander's  side 
and  vainly  tried  to  interpose  his  body  between  the  fir 
ing  and  his  lordship.  The  Spaniards  received  the  rush 


284  Waif-o-the-Sea 


of  the  Chileans  with  a  volley  from  their  pistols  at  close 
range.  With  a  bad  bullet  wound  in  his  thigh,  the 
admiral,  who  had  exposed  himself  as  recklessly  as  any 
junior  officer,  went  smashing  down  to  the  decks.  The 
sight  of  his  fall  —  for  the  ship  was  now  brilliantly 
lighted  with  lanterns  and  flares  —  gave  the  Spaniards 
much  encouragement. 

Lieutenant  Suarez  headed  a  rush  of  the  Spanish 
after-guard,  who  had  all  rallied  with  him.  But  Broad- 
rib,  standing  across  the  body  of  the  admiral,  yelling 
like  a  mad  man,  received  the  brunt  of  the  Spanish 
advance.  The  next  moment  Crosbie  led  his  men  for 
ward.  A  grape  shot  from  the  nearest  fort  at  that 
instant  struck  Lieutenant  Suarez  in  the  arm,  broke  it, 
and  knocked  him  over.  There  was  a  brief,  fierce  melee 
around  the  foremast  and  on  the  forecastle,  in  which  ail 
the  Spaniards  were  finally  shot  down,  driven  below,  or 
.forced  overboard,  and  in  this  melee  poor  Suarez  was 
trampled  under  foot  and  finally  killed  —  a  quick  and 
unlooked-for  ending  to  his  treacherous  schemes  and 
plans. 

Meanwhile  the  harbor  was  now  ablaze  with  light  and 
full  of  sound.  Every  gun  on  shore  or  sea  was  firing. 
The  two  foreign  ships  of  war  had  hoisted  their  lights 
and  the  Spanish  gunners  were  trying  to  avoid  hitting 
them,  but  without  much  success.  They  finally  cut  cables 
and  got  under  way  before  the  land  breeze  to  get  out  of 
range,  which  added  to  the  bewilderment  of  the  Spanish. 

The  Chilean  lieutenant  who  had  carried  the  admiral's 
challenge  and  received  the  information  regarding  the 
lights  had  not  forgot  the  instructions  Cochrane  had 


The  admiral  in  person  led  the  charge 


The  Admiral's  Amazing  Exploit         285 

given  him,  and  even  before  they  had  got  possession  of 
the  ship,  he  raced  up  to  the  masthead  and  hoisted  exactly 
the  same  signal  lights  on  the  Esmeralda. .  This  confused 
the  Spaniards  still  more.  They  were  not  sure  which 
was  the  ship  at  which  they  were  to  aim,  so  they  began 
to  fire  at  all  three.  The  Macedonian  and  the  Hyperion 
were  actually  hulled  several  times  before  they  got 
beyond  gunshot. 

The  Esmeralda,  however,  was  not  yet  in  complete 
possession  of  the  boarding  party.  The  soldiers  on  the 
quarter  deck  had  maintained  their  ranks  and  presented 
a  firm  front  to  the  onfalls  of  the  Chileans.  Captain 
Guise,  for  all  his  insubordination,  was  a  man  of  courage, 
and  as  he  was  senior  captain,  the  command  devolved 
upon  him,  for  Cochrane  was  now  helpless  and  suffering 
greatly  from  his  two  wounds.  He  led  a  charge  in  per 
son  upon  the  soldiers.  These  men,  true  to  the  gallant 
traditions  of  the  Spanish  army,  refusing  to  surrender, 
were  cut  down  to  a  man.  That  was  the  end  of  all 
resistance.  In  fifteen  minutes  from  Admiral  Cochrane's 
first  leap  at  the  gangway,  the  Esmeralda  was  in  the 
possession  of  the  Chileans! 

Old  Broadrib  now  carried  Cochrane  into  the  cap 
tain's  cabin,  and  the  doctor  was  summoned.  The  ad 
miral  was  nearly  speechless  from  loss  of  blood  and 
shock  and  was  suffering  greatly,  but  the  doctor,  who 
administered  restoratives  and  checked  the  flow  of  blood, 
thought  he  would  certainly  recover. 

"Tell  Captain  Guise,"  said  the  admiral,  "to  keep 
fast  the  ship  and  at  once  open  fire  on  the  forts  and 
other  vessels." 


286  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Old  Broadrib  turned  to  deliver  the  message,  only 
to  find  that  it  was  too  late.  Captain  Guise,  although 
he  had  fought  like  a  hero,  had  been  overwhelmed  with 
the  situation,  and  as  he  was  in  technical  command  upon 
Cochrane's  disablement,  he  had  already  ordered  the 
cables  of  the  Esmeralda  cut,  and  her  topsails  were  even 
then  being  sheeted  home.  His  only  idea  was  to  get  out 
of  the  harbor  with  the  prize. 

It  was  too  late  to  carry  out  the  rest  of  Cochrane's 
plan.  So  soon  as  he  knew  from  the  heel  and  the  move 
ment  of  the  ship  that  she  was  under  way,  the  admiral 
realized  that  the  golden  opportunity  had  gone.  He 
never  had  liked  Guise,  and  he  hated  him  from  that  hour, 
for  Cochrane  was  persuaded  that  since  they  had  so 
easily  captured  the  Esmeralda,  the  rest  of  his  plan 
could  have  been  as  easily  carried  out.  Indeed,  he 
sent  Guise  back  to  Valparaiso  at  the  first  convenient 
opportunity  and  refused  to  allow  him  again  to  sail 
under  his  flag. 

The  big  frigate,  a  target  for  all  the  guns  in  the  har 
bor,  rushed  rapidly  toward  the  boom  under  a  freshen 
ing  breeze.  Guise,  who  was  a  good  seaman,  had  now 
loosed  her  courses  and  had  men  aloft  on  the  topgallant 
yards  when  she  struck  the  boom.  He  had  sent  the  rest 
of  the  men  to  the  batteries  and  the  Esmeralda  was 
exchanging  broadside  for  broadside  with  forts  and  ship 
ping  as  she  rushed  away. 

The  boom  was  a  stout  one,  but  it  had  not  been  de 
signed  to  keep  out  ships,  and  the  stem  of  the  Esmeralda 
rose  up  on  it,  hung  there  for  a  moment,  and  then  it 
parted  and  she  was  free. 


The  Admiral's  Amazing  Exploit         287 

Morning  found  them  safely  outside  the  harbor  and 
under  the  lee  of  the  O'Higgins. 

No  more  astounding  feat  of  arms  had  ever  been  at 
tempted  or  carried  out  than  that.  With  fourteen  boats 
and  two  hundred  and  forty  men  armed  with  cutlasses 
and  pistols,  Cochrane  had  cut  out  a  brand  new  forty- 
four-gun  frigate  with  three  hundred  and  sixty  picked 
men  aboard  her,  protected  by  batteries  of  three  hundred 
guns  aided  by  thirty  gun-boats,  two  sloops  of  war,  and 
all  manned  by  ten  thousand  men !  He  had  done  it  with 
a  loss  of  only  eleven  killed  and  thirty  wounded,  while 
the  loss  of  the  Spaniards  was  one  hundred  and  sixty 
killed  on  the  Esmeralda  and  nobody  ever  knew  how 
many  were  wounded  and  driven  overboard.  And  this 
says  nothing  of  the  loss  of  men  and  the  damage  that 
was  done  by  the  fire  of  the  Esmeralda  at  ships,  forts, 
and  shore  as  she  raced  to  the  sea.  She  had  been  struck 
a  good  many  times  by  shots  from  the  Spanish  batteries, 
but  she  had  received  no  damage  that  could  not  be  re 
paired  and  she  was  soon  made  entirely  seaworthy  and 
taken  into  the  Chilean  service. 

Of  all  Admiral  Cochrane's  extraordinary  and  roman 
tic  exploits,  this  was  indeed  the  greatest  and  most  amaz 
ing.  If  it  had  not  been  for  his  two  wounds,  he  would 
have  stayed  in  the  harbor  with  the  Esmeralda  and 
fought  the  batteries  and  ships  until  all  the  latter  at  least 
had  been  destroyed. 

He  was  fearfully  angry  at  the  failure  of  Captain 
Guise  to  obey  his  orders  that  had  been  given  him,  and 
to  carry  out  the  plan,  but  he  consoled  himself  every  time 
he  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  captured  Spanish  frigate, 


288  Waif-o-the-Sea 


through  his  cabin  windows  on  the  O'Higgins.  The 
surgeons  had  decided  that  his  wounds,  while  painful, 
were  not  dangerous  and  that  he  would  not  be  incapaci 
tated  very  long.  Such  was  his  indomitable  spirit,  how 
ever,  that  he  resumed  and  continued  to  exercise  the 
command  of  the  squadron  from  his  cabin,  much  to  the 
disgust  of  Guise  and  Crosbie. 

In  only  one  other  thing  had  he  failed.  There  was  no 
American  woman,  no  girl  dressed  in  boy's  clothes, 
among  the  unfortunate  captives  who  were  overlooked 
and  questioned  by  old  Broadrib  in  a  vain  search  for 
Audrey.  In  their  terror  and  excitement  they  could  tell 
him  nothing,  especially  as  there  were  no  officers  of  rank 
among  them.  The  only  hope  was  that  she  might  have 
been  on  the  Sharon,  whose  fortunes  have  yet  to  be 
related. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

CUTTING  OUT  THE  SHARON 

WHILE  all  this  had  been  going  on,  Captain 
dough's  boat  had  also  been  busy.  The  Ameri 
cans  had  been  given  the  last  place  in  the  line  for  a  very 
good  reason. 

Admiral  Cochrane  could  only  spare  him  one  boat  and 
its  complement.  The  crews  of  the  O'Higgins  and  her 
consorts  were  not  large,  and  the  total  number  aboard 
the  launch  was  only  thirty-six,  counting  the  three  people 
of  the  Sharon.  The  admiral  and  Captain  Clough  both 
thought  it  quite  likely  that  a  heavy  guard  would  be 
placed  on  the  Sharon  to  protect  her.  The  Sharon  lay 
nearer  the  shore  than  the  Esmeralda,  not,  however, 
directly  under  the  guns  of  any  fort  or  battery,  but 
nearer  certain  lights  which  would  render  an  attacking 
party  more  visible  to  the  defenders  than  in  the  case  of 
the  Esmeralda.  A  complete  surprise  could  hardly  be 
hoped  for,  especially  as  there  was  but  one  boat  to 
attack  her. 

The  battle  on  the  Esmeralda  would  undoubtedly  at 
tract  the  attention  and  arouse  the  interest  of  any  men 
on  the  Sharon.  The  Sharon  was  so  moored  that  her 
bows  pointed  toward  the  Esmeralda.  Her  crew  would 
naturally  run  forward  at  the  first  alarm  on  the  other 
ship.  And  this  might  give  the  Americans  a  chance  to 

289 


290  Waif-o-the-Sea 


board  her  aft  and  gain  the  decks  unobserved,  or  with 
out  much  opposition.  For  that  plan  one  large  boat  was 
less  likely  to  attract  attention  than  several  smaller  ones. 
At  least  that  was  the  way  the  young  captain  reasoned. 
The  whole  affair  had  been  talked  over  between  the 
admiral  and  himself  and  they  were  in  absolute  agree 
ment. 

Just  as  soon  as  the  admiral's  division  pulled  away 
directly  for  the  Esmeralda,  Captain  Clough,  instead  of 
pulling  directly  for  the  Sharon,  rowed  along  the  boom, 
which  ran  parallel  to  a  line  between  the  two  ships.  His 
men,  like  the  others,  rowed  in  perfect  silence  and  rather 
slowly,  not  leaving  the  shelter  of  the  boom  until  they 
had  got  well  past  the  whaler  lying  motionless  at  her 
moorings. 

By  this  means  they  succeeded  in  gaining  a  position 
directly  astern  the  Sharon  just  about  the  time  the 
admiral  sought  to  board  the  frigate.  Their  proximity 
was  evidently  not  suspected  by  the  anchor  watch  on 
the  whaler,  fortunately.  Captain  Clough  therefore 
ordered  his  men  to  lay  on  their  oars  and  wait,  although 
he  was  naturally  wildly  anxious  for  action.  The  men  in 
the  boat  did  not  know  why  he  stopped  and  wondered, 
the  Chileans  with  some  suspicions  of  his  courage  in 
their  minds ;  suspicions  which,  of  course,  Rice  and  Storey 
did  not  entertain.  The  two  Americans  knew  that  no 
more  intrepid  man  sailed  the  seas  than  their  young  com 
mander,  but  to  the  Chileans  it  looked  as  if  he  had  sud 
denly  become  sick  of  his  job,  and  they  were  correspond 
ingly  resentful  and  depressed. 

It  all  happened  just  as  the  admiral  and  the  captain 


Cutting  Out  the  Sharon  291 

had  foreseen.  When  the  Esmeralda  was  boarded  and 
the  noise  of  the  battle  was  heard,  lights  had  appeared 
on  the  Sharon,  and  her  crew,  summoned  by  the  anchor 
watch  and  the  shouts  of  Lieutenant  Morelos,  came  run 
ning  up  on  deck.  Naturally,  they  pressed  forward  to 
see  what  was  happening  aboard  the  frigate.  Seeing  the 
after  part  of  the  ship  deserted,  Captain  Clough  ordered 
his  men  to  give  way  gently.  After  a  few  easy  strokes, 
he  directed  them  to  give  way  hard. 

Now  lights  appeared  all  along  the  shore.  Bonfires, 
which  had  been  prepared  for  such  an  emergency,  were 
kindled,  and  into  the  light  of  them  swept  the  Indepen- 
dencia's  launch,  which  had  been  lent  to  the  Americans 
for  the  occasion.  They  were  but  a  few  fathoms  from 
the  stern  of  the  Sharon  at  the  time. 

The  appearance  of  the  boat  could  mean  but  one  thing 
to  the  Spaniards  in  the  nearest  battery.  They  instantly 
let  fly  a  broadside  from  the  shore.  One  shot  struck  the 
launch,  broke  an  oar,  plowed  a  hole  in  her,  instantly 
killed  the  man  sitting  on  the  thwart,  and  wounded  the 
man  opposite.  It  was  lucky  for  the  Americans  that  they 
were  so  close  to  the  whaler,  for  the  launch  would  hardly 
float  five  minutes  in  such  a  state.  The  next  few  seconds 
carried  them  out  of  range  of  the  batteries  and  under 
the  stern  of  the  Sharon.  As  the  way  of  the  launch  was 
checked,  a  man  rose  from  a  shore  boat  concealed  from 
the  assailants  under  the  quarter,  stared  a  moment,  and 
then  shouted  loudly  in  great  alarm.  The  Americans 
paid  no  attention  to  this  man.  He  could  do  no  damage, 
and  they  had  things  of  greater  moment  to  occupy  their 
minds. 


292  Waif-o-the-Sea 


Rice,  who  was  steering,  put  the  tiller  hard  to  star 
board  and  the  boat's  head  swung  to  port  and  she  came 
to  rest  parallel  to  the  stern.  As  yet,  she  had  not  been 
noticed  by  the  men  on  the  decks  above,  who  were  all 
forward.  The  greatest  amount  of  shouting,  and  yell 
ing,  and  confusion  was  going  on  forward.  The  men 
on  the  Sharon  were  getting  their  .arms  and  making 
ready  for — they  knew  not  what. 

Luckily,  the  whaler  was  not  directly  under  the  guns 
of  any  shore  battery,  and  thus  she  was,  for  the  time 
being,  safe  from  heavy  shot  from  the  shore,  but  rifle 
and  musket  bullets  were  hurtling  through  the  air  all 
about  her,  and  she  was  in  the  very  center  of  the  infernal 
melee  that  was  being  kicked  up.  This  was  a  good 
thing,  because  the  crew  of  the  launch  inevitably  made 
a  good  deal  of  noise  in  boarding  her. 

Captain  Clough,  with  a  vivid  remembrance  of  the 
time  that  he  had  done  the  same  thing  before,  sprang 
to  the  Jacob's  ladder,  scrambled  up  it,  and  made  for 
the  cabin  window,  half  the  Chileans  following  him. 
Rice  and  Storey  went  up  the  other  Jacob's  ladder,  but 
finding  the  cabin  window  on  their  side  closed,  and  the 
port  shutters  locked,  they  kept  on  until  they  reached 
the  taffrail,  where  they  soon  drew  themselves  on  deck, 
followed  by  their  men.  Both  ladders  were  filled  with 
men,  those  to  starboard  making  for  the  cabin,  those  to 
port  already  scrambling  over  the  rail. 

Inside  the  cabin  no  one  had  moved  since  the  alarm  on 
the  decks  without.  Audrey  still  leaned  against  the 
bulkhead.  Captain  Cueto  still  knelt  by  the  side  of 
Donna  Inez,  whose  breathing  showed  that  she  was 


Cutting  Out  the  Sharon  293 

not  yet  dead  at  any  rate.  It  was  Jose's  wild  shout  of 
alarm  that  broke  the  spell. 

Captain  Cueto  caught  one  word,  Inglesias!  of 
dreadful  purport.  The  next  moment  unmistakable 
sounds  convinced  him  that  the  ship  was  attacked  by  the 
stern.  He  did  not  lack  personal  courage.  He  sprang 
to  his  feet,  whipped  out  the  light  dress  sword  he  was 
wearing,  rushed  to  the  door  of  the  berth  to  starboard, 
thrusting  aside  Audrey  with  his  left  hand  as  he  burst 
into  the  smaller  cabin.  Captain  Clough  was  already 
half  way  in  the  room.  He  filled  the  stern  window  com 
pletely,  and  was  clearly  seen  in  the  light  cast  by  the  lan 
terns  in  the  main  cabin. 

He  was  at  a  terrible  disadvantage  when  Captain 
Cueto,  recognizing  him,  shortened  his  sword,  and  with 
a  fierce  cry  of  joy  leaped  at  him  to  thrust  him  through. 
Clough  could  not  strike  or  parry  with  his  cutlass  owing 
to  his  constrained  position.  His  pistol  hand  was  free 
and  he  hastily  raised  the  weapon  and  pressed  the  trig 
ger,  but  his  aim  was  hurried  and  uncertain.  Captain 
Cueto  sprang  aside.  It  was  a  clean  miss.  Death  cer 
tain  and  quick  was  at  the  point  of  the  Spaniard's  shining 
blade.  He  drew  back  for  the  thrust,  and  then  Audrey, 
who  had  come  to  sudden  life  at  the  shot,  and  had  at  last 
followed  him  into  the  cabin,  seized  his  arm.  She  saw 
her  lover's  terrible  peril,  and  acted  with  her  usual 
promptitude  and  success. 

Captain  Cueto's  thrust  went  into  the  air;  he  turned 
and  struck  Audrey  with  his  fist,  and  as  she  fell  he  faced 
the  raging  American,  who  had  gained  his  footing  in  the 
cabin  and  rushed  at  him,  cutlass  in  hand. 


294  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


The  Spaniard  was  no  mean  fencer.  His  light  sword 
was  scarcely  a  match  for  the  broad  and  heavy  blade 
of  the  cutlass.  Yet  he  made  up  in  part  by  his  skill  for 
this  disadvantage.  He  retreated  to  the  larger  outer 
cabin  where  his  science  and  skill  would  be  more  easily 
employed  and  of  better  service  to  him.  And  as  he 
retreated  he  called  for  help. 

But  the  American  officer,  jumping  over  the  prostrate 
body  of  Audrey,  would  not  be  denied.  Before  the  rest 
of  the  Chileans  had  entered  the  cabin  he  had  beaten 
down  the  Spaniard's  guard  by  the  impetuosity  of  his 
mighty  attack.  The  latter' s  sword  was  broken  off  at 
the  hilt,  and  a  second  later  he  was  driven  to  his  knees 
by  a  mighty  blow,  and  fell  senseless  by  the  body  of 
Donna  Inez. 

The  next  moment  Audrey,  who  had  been  helped  to 
her  feet  by  the  first  of  the  Chilean  boarders,  was  in 
Captain  Clough's  arms. 

"Safe,  unharmed?"  he  cried,  straining  her  to  his 
heart  amid  the  smiles  and  cheers  of  his  men. 

"Yes,  thank  God,"  she  answered,  her  eyes  shining, 
her  face  aflame. 

He  kissed  her,  tore  himself  away,  and  rushed  to  the 
cabin  door  opening  on  the  quarter  deck,  all,  including 
Audrey  herself,  following  him  with  glad  hearts  and  high 
courage,  leaving  the  cabin  to  the  wounded,  unconscious 
Spaniard  and  the  poor  Donna  Inez,  of  Peru. 

Now  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  of  the  other  party 
had  gained  the  quarter  deck  from  the  poop  when  they 
were  observed.  Every  available  lantern  had  been 
lighted  on  the  ship  and  the  Americans  were  in  plain 


Cutting  Out  the  Sharon  295 

view.  Lieutenant  Morelos  recognized  the  two  Ameri 
cans  who  had  been  on  the  Esmeralda  with  him.  He 
shouted  loudly  and  his  cry  was  heard  on  the  ship  above 
the  noise  of  the  conflict.  The  astonished  Spaniards 
crowded  forward,  faced  aft.  They  saw  a  little  group 
of  seamen,  cutlass  and  pistol  in  hand,  by  the  mizzen 
mast,  and  a  constant  succession  of  men  coming  over  the 
break  of  the  poop.  Those  forward  who  had  weapons 
discharged  them,  in  their  excitement  and  in  the  dim  light 
harmlessly,  and  then,  led  by  the  lieutenant,  they  dashed 
aft,  streaming  through  the  gangways  on  both  sides 
of  the  ship. 

Rice  and  Storey,  as  brave  seamen  as  ever  lived,  did 
not  wait  to  receive  the  rush.  They  met  it  with  a  rush 
of  their  own.  Yelling  like  maniacs,  they  sprang  for 
ward  of  the  mizzen  mast,  rushed  across  the  quarter 
deck,  and  struck  the  two  crowds  of  Spaniards  just  as 
they  came  together  abaft  the  main  mast.  They  were 
followed  most  gallantly  by  the  Chileans,  who  showed 
that  night  on  board  the  ship  the  highest  kind  of  des 
perate,  headlong  courage.  All  they  needed  was  good 
leadership,  and  they  had  it  on  the  Sharon  as  on  the 
Esmeralda. 

They  hated  the  Spaniards  with  a  bitter  hatred,  and 
they  did  not  spare.  The  Spaniards  returned  the  hatred 
of  the  Chileans,  and  they  were  brave,  too.  Although 
Rice,  and  Storey,  and  the  first  four  men  fairly  shoved 
their  pistols  in  the  faces  of  the  Spaniards  and  crumpled 
up  the  front  rank  of  them,  the  rest  came  crowding  on. 
There  were,  apparently,  at  least  fifty  of  them. 

By  this  time  all  of  the  men  forward  in  the  launch 


296  Waif-o-the-Sea 


had  gained  the  deck,  bringing  Rice  and  Storey's  party  up 
to  about  twenty.  They  were  all  furiously  engaged  at 
once;  cutting,  and  slashing,  and  swearing,  and  yelling, 
they  swayed  back  and  forth  on  the  deck,  but  the  mass 
of  Spaniards  was  too  great  for  the  twenty  boarders  long 
to  withstand.  They  were  slowly  pushed  back.  One  or 
two  of  the  Chileans  were  cut  down.  All  that  saved  them 
was  the  fact  that  there  were  so  many  Spaniards,  and 
they  were  so  crowded  together  in  the  gangways  that  it 
was  difficult  for  them  to  use  their  weapons  effectively. 
They  thought  they  had,  however,  all  the  boarders  be 
fore  them,  and  they  were  confident  they  could  easily 
overcome  these  few. 

Rice,  and  Storey,  and  their  men  meanwhile  were 
wondering  what  had  become  of  Captain  Clough  and  his 
party.  They  knew  him  too  thoroughly  to  question  his 
courage  but  the  rest  of  the  Chileans  thought  they  had 
been  betrayed  and  being  pushed  against  the  starboard 
rail,  they  even  contemplated  jumping  overboard  to  gain 
the  launch  astern,  which  still  floated,  although  it  was 
now  awash. 

"We  have  them!  We  have  them!"  shouted  the 
Spanish  lieutenant.  "  Drive  the  rebel  dogs  into  the 
water!" 

The  next  minute  a  shriek  rose  from  the  men  in  the 
rear  rank,  who  had  been  vainly  trying  to  get  at  the 
Americans,  for  the  fifteen  men  under  Captain  Clough 
fell  upon  them.  The  shriek  apprised  Lieutenant  More- 
los  that  something  was  wrong.  He  was  a  man  of  cour 
age  and  resourcefulness,  however,  and  without  relax 
ing  the  pressure  upon  Rice,  and  Storey,  and  their  men, 


Cutting  Out  the  Sharon  297 

he  ordered  his  rear  rank  to  face  about.  Those  who 
had  survived  the  impact  of  the  Americans  sought  to  do 
so,  but  Captain  Clough  pressed  his  attack  home  des 
perately.  From  probable  victors  the  Spaniards  were 
caught  between  two  forces  and  faced  annihilation.  They 
fought  on  —  there  was  nothing  else  to  do  —  and  now 
with  the  courage  of  despair. 

Clough,  all  of  whose  skill  as  a  swordsman  had  come 
back  to  him,  and  whose  conduct  now  won  the  highest 
approval  of  his  Chilean  auxiliaries,  had  forced  the 
fighting  at  the  rear  of  the  Spanish  line.  Rice,  and 
Storey,  and  their  men,  animated  by  the  appearance  of 
their  comrades,  also  fought  with  renewed  valor,  and 
when  Captain  Clough,  with  a  sweeping  slash,  finally 
cut  down  the  Spanish  lieutenant  the  surviving  men 
threw  down  their  arms.  The  thirty-six  had  boarded 
and  captured  the  ship  despite  the  fifty  defenders.  In 
its  way  it  was  as  great  a  feat  of  arms  as  the  taking  of 
the  Esmeralda. 

Of  the  Spaniards,  twenty  were  dead,  or  so  severely 
wounded  as  to  be  helpless;  ten  more  had  received  less 
severe  wounds  and  could  move  about.  There  were 
twenty  who  were  unharmed.  Of  the  attacking  party, 
ten  were  dead,  three  severely  wounded,  among  the  lat 
ter  being  Rice.  Storey,  and  Clough,  and  Audrey  were 
unharmed.  Captain  Clough  had  been  grazed  by  a  bul 
let.  Rice's  hurt  was  a  deep  saber  cut  in  the  arm.  It 
had  taken  the  Americans  a  little  longer  to  capture  the 
Sharon  than  the  admiral  had  required  to  take  the 
Esmeralda,  and  the  fighting  had  been  quite  as  fierce. 

As  Clough  looked  about  him,  panting  from  his  exer- 


298  Waif-o-the-Sea 


tions,  he  saw  the  Esmeralda's  topsails  fall  and  the  ship 
slowly  move  toward  the  boom  and  the  mouth  of  the 
harbor. 

"  Storey,"  he  called  out. 

"Sir?" 

"  Drive  these  Spaniards  down  the  fore  hatch,  and  put 
a  heavy  guard  over  them." 

"Aye,  aye,  sir." 

"  Rey,"  said  Captain  Clough,  using  the  old  boyish 
name,  and  apparently  forgetful  of  her  sex,  and  for  the 
moment  of  everything  but  the  grave  need  of  the  critical 
hour,  "take  ten  men  and  jump  aloft  and  loose  the 
mains'l."  He  turned  to  a  Chilean  bo's'n's  mate,  whose 
name  he  had  learned.  "  Manuel,"  he  pointed  to  the 
spanker.  "Storey,"  he  called  as  the  unwounded  Span 
iards  went  reluctantly  forward,  driven  by  Storey  and 
half  a  score  of  men,  "loose  the  heads'ls  and  fores'l  as 
soon  as  you  get  these  men  under  hatches.  I  will  take 
a  look  at  Rice.  Bear  a  hand  all,  lively  now !  " 

The  men  ran  to  their  several  stations.  The  Span 
iards  were  hustled  below;  the  hatch  was  clapped  to  and 
hastily  battened ;  the  fore  and  main  courses  were  loosed ; 
the  jib  was  set;  the  spanker  was  hauled  out;  the  moor 
ing  cables  ahead  and  astern  were  cut,  and  in  a  moment 
the  Sharon  began  to  forge  ahead. 

As  soon  as  she  had  steerage  way  on  her,  Clough 
gave  the  helm  to  Storey,  and  after  having  assured  him 
self  that  Rice's  wound  was  not  fatal,  and  bidding 
Audrey,  who  had  come  down  from  aloft  to  look  after 
him,  he  ran  forward  to  con  the  ship. 

The  attention  of  the  Spanish  batteries  was  concen- 


Cutting  Out  the  Sharon  299 

trated,  of  course,  on  the  Esmeralda,  which  was  now 
blazing  away  with  all  her  guns.  For  a  time  the  Sharon 
was  not  noticed,  but  just  as  soon  as  she  swung  into  the 
wake  of  the  Esmeralda,  and  as  they  saw  her  dark  bulk 
in  the  flashing  light  from  the  frigate's  guns,  the  Span 
iards  diverted  a  goodly  portion  of  their  fire  to  her. 
A  good  many  shots  came  aboard.  Several  tore  through 
the  fore  and  main  sails ;  others  went  over  her ;  and  if  she 
had  had  her  proper  topmasts  and  yards  on  her,  undoubt 
edly  would  have  done  much  damage.  But  as  it  was,  no 
shot  that  struck  her  was  serious,  or  wounded  her  in  a 
vital  part.  Of  course,  she  sailed  much  more  slowly  than 
the  Esmeralda  and  was  under  fire  for  a  longer  time. 
But  by  cleverly  following  the  course  of  the  frigate,  Cap 
tain  Clough  finally  brought  the  whaler  through  the 
break  she  had  made  in  the  boom  and  gradually  left  the 
Spanish  batteries  out  of  range. 

"Well,"  he  said  to  Audrey,  and  Rice,  who  was  lying 
on  the  deck  after  having  been  made  as  comfortable  as 
possible,  and  all  the  others,  "  lads,  we  have  got  our  ship 
back  again.  Three  cheers  !  " 

The  four  Americans  led  off  with  three  hearty  cheers, 
Audrey's  voice  rising  above  the  rest.  The  Chileans, 
understanding  at  last  what  was  toward,  joined  madly 
with  wild  but  triumphant  yells  in  the  final  cheer. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

WITH  FAIR  WIND  FOR  HOME 

BY  DAYBREAK  Captain  Clough  had  the  Sharon 
safely  hove  to  near  the  O'Higgins.  He  called 
away  a  boat  and,  leaving  Storey  in  command  of  the 
ship,  he  was  rowed  to  the  flagship  to  make  his  report 
and  to  pay  his  respects  to  his  benefactor,  Audrey 
accompanying  him. 

"Admiral,"  said  Clough,  when  he  was  ushered  into 
Lord  Cochrane's  cabin,  u  we  got  our  ship,  and  the  young 
lady,  and  here  she  is." 

He  moved  aside  as  he  spoke,  and  Audrey,  in  her 
jaunty  boy's  suit,  stood  forth  in  full  view  of  the  great 
admiral.  She  was  blushing  furiously  and  wishing  with 
all  her  heart  that  she  had  her  own  proper  clothes  on. 
But  there  was  nothing  on  the  Sharon  but  the  Spanish 
dress  so  hateful  to  her,  which  she  had  put  off  before 
the  scene  in  the  cabin,  which  she  vowed  to  herself  she 
would  not  wear  again.  Her  own  women's  clothes  were 
on  the  Spanish  frigate,  if  they  had  not  been  made  away 
with,  and  she  had  nothing  else. 

Besides,  she  had  enjoyed  little  or  no  time  to  make 
any  change.  As  soon  as  the  Sharon  had  cleared  the 
boom  and  dropped  out  of  range  of  the  shore  batteries, 
she  had  gone  into  the  cabin  to  look  after  the  two  pris 
oners  therein.  To  her  great  relief  she  found  that  her 

300 


With  Fair  Wind  for  Home  301 

bullet  had  only  grazed  Donna  Inez'  head.  Save  for  the 
shock,  the  Spanish  lady  was  all  right.  And  the  white 
bandage  she  had  improvised  and  tied  about  her  head 
over  her  dark  locks  rather  added  to  than  detracted 
from  her  appearance. 

Captain  Cueto  was  in  much  worse  case.  The  heavy 
blade  of  the  American's  cutlass  had  bitten  deep  into 
his  shoulder.  He  had  lost  much  blood,  and  looked  it. 
Donna  Inez  had  bared  his  shoulder,  stanched  the  flow, 
bandaged  the  wound  temporarily,  and  had  assisted  him 
to  a  berth  in  the  captain's  cabin,  where  Audrey  found 
them. 

Donna  Inez  had  looked  at  her  with  great  disfavor. 
She  was  still  jealous,  and  naturally  so. 

"  It  is  the  Americana.  Shall  I  leave  you  to  her,  Don 
Baldamero?"  she  began,  withdrawing  her  hand  and 
moving  aside. 

But  Captain  Cueto  caught  her  hand  and  held  it  with  a 
strength  unexpected  in  view  of  his  condition. 

"Wait,"  he  began,  "you,  Donna  Inez,  and  you,  too, 
Senorita,  hear  me.  I  do  not  know  what  they  will  do  to 
me.  But  I  must  clear  my  conscience.  My  conduct  was 
quite  unworthy  a  gentleman  of  Spain.  I  ask  your  for 
giveness,  Senorita,  and  yours,  beloved  Donna  Inez. 
I  have  lost  my  ship,  and  perhaps  stand  to  lose  my  life. 
If  I  can  regain  your  respect,  Senorita,  and  retain  your 
affection,  Donna  Inez,  I  can  at  least  die  without 
repining." 

It  was  a  long  speech,  he  had  raised  himself  a  little 
to  give  emphasis  to  his  confession  and  apology,  and 
he  now  fell  back  exhausted. 


302  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"  I  forgive  you  and  love  you,  dear  Don  Baldamero," 
said  Donna  Inez,  bending  over  him. 

"And  I  will  at  least  do  the  first  after  your  handsome 
apology,"  said  Audrey,  glad  that  everything  had  turned 
out  so  well.  "  If  it  rests  with  me,  and  I  think  I  may 
speak  for  Captain  Clough,  whom  I  am  to  marry,"  she 
continued  with  pardonable  pride,  "  I  think  you  can  both 
go  free." 

"May  Christ  and  His  Holy  Mother  and  all  the 
Saints  bless  you,"  cried  Donna  Inez,  as  Audrey  turned 
away. 

"  I  was  mad  to  think  for  an  instant  of  that  pale-faced 
American,"  Audrey  heard  Captain  Cueto  say,  as  she 
left  them  together. 

It  was  not  flattering  to  her,  but  it  certainly  was  pleas 
ing  to  poor  Donna  Inez  and  Audrey  was  glad.  There 
was  only  one  man  in  whose  eyes  she  must  appear  the 
most  desired  of  women.  She  closed  the  door  behind 
her  and  the  next  moment  another  pair  of  lovers  were 
together,  for  Captain  Clough  came  into  the  main  cabin 
and  took  her  in  his  arms.  He  did  not  leave  her  in 
doubt  as  to  what  he  thought.  When  coherent  speech 
was  possible  after  those  blissful  moments  alone  she  told 
him  about  the  other  two  and  her  promise. 

Captain  Clough  was  not  in  a  mood  to  deny  the  brave 
woman,  whom  he  loved  and  who  had  twice  saved  his 
life  in  the  cabin  of  that  very  ship,  anything  she  re 
quested.  He  readily  agreed  to  her  proposed  disposi 
tion  of  the  prisoners,  always  provided  he  received  the 
approval  of  Admiral  Cochrane,  under  whose  command 
he  certainly  had  placed  himself. 


With  Fair  Wind  for  Home  303 

Indeed  it  was  to  tell  Audrey  they  must  go  aboard  the 
flagship  and  report  at  once  that  he  came. 

"  In  these  clothes  !  "  exclaimed  the  girl. 

"  Lord  Cochrane  is  a  sailor  and  you  are  a  picture  to 
fill  a  sailor's  eye  and  a  sailor's  heart.  Come  as  you  are. 
Time  enough  for  dresses  later." 

Thus  Audrey  found  herself,  blushing,  nervous,  not 
a  little  awed  indeed,  before  the  great  sailor  of  fortune. 

In  his  turn  he  regarded  the  extremely  boyish  young 
lady  with  curiosity  and  interest  to  which  manifest  ap 
proval  succeeded. 

"  My  gallant  young  American  friend,"  he  began  at 
last,  addressing  Captain  Clough,  "now  that  I  see  the 
young  lady,  even  in  that  fetching  rig-out,  I  don't  wonder 
at  your  anxiety  and  that  you  took  the  bold  and  quick 
course.  You  are  unharmed,  my  child?" 

'  Yes,  your  lordship,  save  for  a  few  bruises,"  an 
swered  Audrey,  starting  to  courtesy  like  a  woman  and 
then  remembering  and  saluting,  knuckling  her  forehead 
in  true  seamanlike  fashion. 

The  admiral  laughed  kindly  and  turned  to  Clough 
again. 

"  I  congratulate  you  on  the  safety  of  the  lady  and 
your  successful  seizure  of  your  ship.  I  knew  you  would 
do  it,  of  course.  The  first  thing  I  asked  as  the  Esme- 
ralda  left  the  harbor,  was  whether  you  were  following 
or  not.  Were  you  under  fire  long?  " 

"Longer  than  I  liked,  sir,"  answered  Captain 
Clough.  "  But  no  serious  damage  has  been  done.  None 
that  ship  carpenters  and  riggers  cannot  repair  in  a  day 
or  two." 


304  Waif-o-the-Sea 


"Tell  me  about  how  you  took  her  and  what  hap 
pened  to  the  little  boy-lady  here,"  said  the  admiral, 
whereupon  Captain  Clough  related  the  details  of  the 
adventure,  which  Audrey,  encouraged  by  the  admiral's 
kindly  interest,  explained  more  fully  from  time  to 
time. 

''You  have  a  fondness  for  boarding  through  stern 
windows,  it  seems,"  said  Cochrane,  smiling  in  spite  of 
his  weakness  and  pain.  "  Well,  sir,  it  was  most  hand 
somely  done  by  both  of  you.  Young  lady,  you  are  the 
very  wife  for  a  gallant  seaman  and  Captain  Clough  is 
to  be  congratulated.  Now  as  to  your  losses,  sir?" 

"We  have  lost  nine  of  your  Chilean  seamen  and  a 
bo's'n's  mate  killed,  I  am  sorry  to  report,  sir,  and  we 
have  two  more  severely  wounded,  with  two  slightly 
wounded  who  will  be  fit  for  duty  in  a  few  days." 

"And  your  own  men,  sir?" 

"  One  of  my  men  has  a  sword  cut  in  the  arm,  not  dan 
gerous.  I  was  grazed  by  a  bullet  and  that  is  all." 

"  I  will  send  my  surgeon  off  to  look  at  your  wounded 
at  once.  The  dead  you  had  better  send  here  to  be 
buried  with  our  poor  fellows." 

"  I  shall  attend  to  it  at  once,  your  lordship." 

Captain  Clough  saluted,  but  hung  in  the  wind  a 
moment.  Obviously  he  had  something  else  on  his  mind 
and,  although  the  admiral's  surgeon  came  into  the  cabin 
where  the  admiral  lay  with  a  warning  against  a  longer 
continuance  of  the  conversation  in  his  weakened  condi 
tion,  Cochrane  waved  him  aside. 

'You  had  something  more  to  say  to  me,  Captain 
Clough?"  he  asked. 


With  Fair  Wind  for  Home  305 

"Yes,  my  lord." 

"Speak  out,  then." 

"It's  about  that  Spanish  captain,  sir." 

"Ah,  I  had  overlooked  him  for  the  moment.  Send 
him  aboard  at  once." 

"  Begging  your  pardon,  sir,  but  Miss  McRae,  here, 
promised  to  —  to  —  intercede  with  your  lordship  for 
him  and  the  lady." 

"Won't  you  let  them  go  free,  sir?"  asked  Audrey. 
"He  is  sorry  and  badly  wounded,  and  I  almost  killed 
her." 

"  My  dear  young  lady,"  answered  the  admiral,  "  I 
can  refuse  so  brave  and  splendid  a  girl  nothing.  Be 
sides,  Captain  Clough,  he  was  in  your  ship.  You  cap 
tured  him.  He  is  your  prisoner,  not  mine.  I  am  not 
supposed  to  know  anything  about  his  disposition.  If 
I  make  any  inquiries  it  will  be  too  late." 

"  I  thank  your  lordship,"  said  Audrey  gratefully. 

"  Not  at  all.  Now,  Doctor,  would  you  mind  calling 
my  orderly  and  bid  him  tell  old  Broadrib  to  come 
here?" 

In  a  few  moments  the  old  harpooner  presented  him 
self. 

"As  you  see,  Broadrib,  the  young  lady  is  here  safe 
and  sound  and " 

But  Audrey  did  not  wait  for  the  completion  of  the 
admiral's  sentence.  She  fairly  threw  herself  into  the 
arms  of  the  delighted  old  seaman  and  before  he  could 
say  a  word  she  kissed  his  weather-beaten  check,  she  was 
so  glad  to  see  him.  The  admiral  threw  back  his  head 
for  all  his  weakness  and  laughed  heartily. 


306  PTalf-o-the-Sea 


"  First  time  in  my  life  I  have  envied  my  chief  boat 
swain's  mate,"  he  said  presently. 

"Oh,  sir,"  said  Audrey,  smiling  in  turn,  "if  I  had 
not  thought  you  so  great " 

"  My  dear,  no  man  is  ever  too  great  to  be  kissed  by  a 
pretty  woman,  even  in  boy's  clothes." 

Audrey  bent  over  the  great  seaman,  old  enough  to 
be  her  father,  indeed,  and  kissed  him  unblushingly. 

"  Your  lor' ship's  was  the  properest,"  said  old  Broad- 
rib,  "  but  mine  was  the  quickest  an'  most  nateral.  Miss 
Audrey,  but  I'm  gladder  to  see  ye  alive  an'  well  than 
to  have  took  the  ships." 

"Well,  Broadrib,"  said  the  admiral,  "your  ship 
lies  out  there.  I  understand  you  have  agreed  to  help 
work  her  back  to  New  Bedford  for  Captain  Clough." 

"  I  have,  sir,  with  your  lordship's  permission  an'  for 
the  little  lady's  sake." 

"  Tut,  tut,  man,  you  need  no  permission  from  me." 

"  But  your  lordship  bein'  a  British  officer  an'  my  old 
commander " 

Cochrane  shook  his  head. 

"  I  am  not  a  British  officer  any  longer." 

;<Your  lordship,"  said  Captain  Clough,  "while  I 
can  hardly  spare  him  I  feel  in  duty  bound  to  say  that  if 
you  want  Broadrib " 

"I  want  him,"  said  the  earl,  "and  I  have  no  doubt 
he  wants  me,  but  a  bargain's  a  bargain,  hey,  Master 
Broadrib?" 

"  Yes,  your  lordship.  I  feels  in  duty  bound  to  keep 
to  my  word  an'  help  Cap'n  Clough  work  the  whaler  back 
to  New  Bedford  for  the  little  lady.  Besides  which, 


With  Fair  Wind  for  Home  307 

there  will  be  a  bit  of  salvage,  an'  a  good  lay  comin'  to 
me  when  we  gits  there." 

"You'll  get  her  there,  all  right,"  said  Cochrane. 
"Any  crew  that  has  gone  through  all  you  have  and 
come  off  first  best  is  able  to  do  anything.  Now,  Cap 
tain  Clough,  I  will  have  my  carpenter's  gang,  poor 
enough  fellows  they  are  but  willing,  sent  off  to  your 
ship.  If  there  are  any  spare  spars  on  the  Esmeralda 
that  are  useful  to  you,  you  can  use  them  to  fit  out  the 
Sharon.  There  are  four  Americans,  I  find,  in  our 
squadron  who  will,  I  am  sure,  be  glad  to  join  you  and 
I  will  give  orders  for  their  discharge  papers  to  be  made 
out.  You  will  have  to  pay  them  well." 

"  I  will  be  glad  to  do  that.  I  am  sure  my  owners 
will  be  glad  to  deal  generously  with  them." 

"  That  will  give  you  a  crew  of  nine  all  told  and  you 
ought  to  be  able  to  work  the  ship  back  without  any 
difficulty." 

"  I  am  profoundly  grateful  to  your  lordship,"  said 
Clough.  "  You  have  treated  us  handsomely." 

"Tut,  tut,  man,"  said  the  admiral.  "Blood  is 
thicker  than  water.  The  Americans  I  have  had  under 
me  have  served  me  well.  I  am  glad  of  an  opportunity 
to  show  my  appreciation.  How  are  you  off  for  provi 
sions  and  water?" 

"  Well,  sir,  I  had  intended  to  touch  at  Valparaiso  to 
replenish." 

"Take  my  advice,"  said  the  admiral  earnestly,  "  and 
don't  do  it.  There  might  be  a  claim  for  salvage  or 
prize  money  entertained.  The  ship  might  be  libeled 
and  seized  in  spite  of  my  safe  conduct.  The  whole 


308  Waif-o-the-Sea 


proceeding  is  a  bit  irregular,  you  know,  and  you  had 
better  steer  clear  of  that  or  any  other  Chilean  port.  I 
will  fill  your  water  casks  and  give  orders  that  whatever 
else  you  need  shall  be  put  aboard  from  the  flagship's 
stores.  Anything  else  ?" 

"Shall  you  be  sending  a  boat  ashore,  sir?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  admiral.  "I  am  going  to  propose 
an  exchange  of  prisoners.  By  the  way,  did  you  capture 
any?" 

"We  have  ten  severely  wounded  aboard  us,  most 
of  whom  will  die,  I  think,  and  twenty  unwounded  men 
and  a  midshipman." 

"  Good !  We'll  include  those.  But  did  you  want  to 
send  a  message  ashore?" 

"  I  would  like  very  much  to  have  a  letter  delivered  to 
Captain  Downes  of  the  Macedonian" 

"  I  will  see  if  it  can  be  arranged,"  said  the  admiral. 
"And  now,  as  I  am  feeling  pretty  badly,  I  will  ask  you 
to  excuse  me.  Ask  the  flag  captain  to  step  below  as  you 
go  on  deck  and  I  will  give  him  the  necessary  orders  to 
carry  out  your  needs,"  said  the  big-hearted,  magnani 
mous  sailor. 

"  Before  I  go,  admiral,  I  want  you  to  give  me  the 
permission  to  distribute  the  contents  of  this  purse 
among  the  men  who  assisted  us  in  cutting  out  the 
Sharon,"  said  Captain  Clough.  "There  is  a  thousand 
dollars  here  that  belonged  to  Captain  Norris,  which  I 
feel  justified  in  devoting  to  this  purpose." 

"  Won't  that  leave  you  short  of  funds  ?  " 

"No,  sin  I  shall  have  plenty  until  I  get  to  New 
Bedford.  Following  your  advice,  I  do  not  intend  to 


With  Fair  Wind  for  Home  309 

touch  at  a  port  unless  it  is  absolutely  necessary  until  I 
get  to  Buenos  Ayres." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  admiral.  "  Your  own  men  are 
still  on  your  ship,  are  they  not?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Remember,  I  wish  to  see  you  again  before  you 
take  your  departure,"  said  the  admiral,  dismissing  them 
at  last. 

In  a  short  time  a  gang  of  carpenters,  together  with 
the  American  seamen  from  the  Chilean  squadron,  who 
were  glad  enough  of  the  chance  to  get  back  to  the 
United  States,  came  off  to  the  Sharon.  Captain  Clough 
promised  them  double  wages  and  a  substantial  reward 
if  they  made  New  Bedford  safely.  One  of  them, 
named  Woodruff,  had  been  a  fourth  mate  and  knew 
enough  of  navigation  to  find  his  way  around  in  case 
anything  happened  to  Clough.  The  captain  didn't 
displace  old  Broadrib  from  his  position  as  mate,  but  he 
appointed  Woodruff  second  mate,  and  he  and  Broad- 
rib  directing,  with  Storey  to  assist,  the  work  of  refitting 
the  Sharon  proceeded  merrily.  Rice  was  in  a  fair  way 
to  recover  from  his  wound  and  Donna  Inez  and  Cap 
tain  Cueto  had  been  freed  and  sent  ashore. 

There  were  plenty  of  spare  spars  in  the  Esmeralda 
and  after  several  days  of  steady  work  the  whaler  was 
in  fine  condition  for  her  long  cruise.  Admiral  Coch- 
rane  was  as  good  as  his  word.  He  provisioned  her 
generously,  he  filled  her  water  casks  and  he  even  sent 
off  a  boat  load  of  delicacies  for  the  officers. 

Captain  Clough  had  made  glad  the  hearts  of  his 
Chilean  shipmates  in  the  adventure  by  distributing  tlis 


310  Waif-o-the-Sea 


thousand  dollars  among  them.  They  bade  him  an  ad 
miring  good-bye  and  returned  to  their  ship.  All  was 
soon  ready  for  the  voyage  home.  But  before  they  put 
the  Sharon  on  her  course  two  things  happened.  First 
Captain  Clough  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  a 
visit  from  Captain  John  Downes,  his  old  commander. 
The  noted  American  naval  officer  was  amazed  and  de 
lighted  with  Audrey,  now  dressed  and,  as  she  fondly 
hoped,  forever  in  her  own  proper  clothes.  Her  boxes 
had  been  found  and  she  had  been  busy  with  her  needle 
while  the  Sharon  was  being  overhauled. 

"I  never  dreamed,"  said  that  seaman,  "that  the 
Sharon  was  an  American  ship  and  that  you  were  cutting 
her  out.  I  saw,  of  course,  that  somebody  had  taken 
her  and  that  she  was  putting  for  sea.  Why  didn't  you 
tell  me  about  it,  Clough?" 

"Well,  sir,"  answered  Captain  Clough,  "I  thought 
you  would  have  made  diplomatic  representations  and 
we  would  have  got  mixed  up  in  law  suits  and  everything 
else  and,  as  Admiral  Cochrane  said,  the  quickest  way 
was  to  cut  her  out." 

"And  you  thought  that  of  me?"  said  bluff  Captain 
Downes,  in  deep  disgust  at  that  mistake.  "  Diplomacy 
be  damned !  If  I  had  known  she  was  an  American 
ship  I  would  have  taken  her  in  face  of  all  the  Spanish 
forts  on  the  continent,  from  the  whole  Spanish  Army 
and  Navy  if  necessary." 

"I  believe  you  would,  sir,"  assented  the  other,  "but 
in  that  case  your  men  would  have  had  a  claim 
on  her." 

"Yes,  I  guess  you  got  her  in  the  best  way  after  all," 


With  Fair  Wind  for  Home  311 

admitted  Downes.  "  By  the  way,  could  you  use  two  or 
three  more  men?" 

"That  I  could,  sir,"  said  Clough. 

"  I  have  two  or  three  that  are  invalided  and  want 
to  go  home.  I  think  after  they  get  out  of  these  hot 
latitudes  they  will  be  all  right.  Have  you  got  every 
thing  else  you  need?" 

"  Everything,  sir.  Admiral  Cochrane  has  been  most 
kind." 

"He  is  a  great  fighter,"  said  Downes.  "I  am  glad 
we  never  ran  up  against  him  in  the  war  of  1812." 

"So  am  I,"  said  Clough.  "And  yet  Commodore 
Porter  in  the  Essex,  with  you  to  second  him,  would 
have " 

"  Tut,  tut,"  laughed  Downes.  "  Well,  a  safe  voyage 
to  you.  Do  you  start  immediately?  " 

"After  Miss  McRae  and  I  have  gone  over  to  pay 
our  respects  to  the  admiral." 

"  My  boat  is  alongside,"  said  Captain  Downes.  "  I 
will  take  you  both  over  and  fetch  you  back.  I  would 
like  to  call  on  the  admiral  myself." 

They  found  Lord  Cochrane  much  better  and  sitting 
up.  The  three  Americans  were  received  in  the  cabin 
at  once. 

"  I  am  glad  to  meet  you,  Captain  Downes,"  said  the 
admiral  cordially,  after  he  had  greeted  Audrey,  whom 
he  found  more  charming  than  ever.  "The  informa 
tion  you  gave  us  about  the  lights  was  of  the  utmost 
value." 

"We  are  on  your  side,  sir,"  said  Captain  Downes, 
"  in  fighting  against  the  Spaniards.  I  wish  I  could  have 


312  Waif-o-the-Sea 


joined  in  the  mix-up  myself.  Your  attack  was  a  sight 
to  stir  the  blood." 

;'You  have  seen  service,  I  understand?" 

"  Yes,  a  little.    I  was  a  member  of  the  Essex  crew." 

"Ah,  that  ship  was  gallantly  fought,  sir." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  Will  your  lordship  give  me  leave  ? 
The  cutting  out  of  the  Esmeralda  was  the  most  extraor 
dinary  exploit  that  has  ever  come  under  my  notice.  I 
do  not  believe  any  other  seaman  afloat  would  have 
attempted  it,  and  I  am  sure  no  other  seaman  that  ever 
lived  could  have  brought  it  about." 

"It  was  a  neat  bit  of  work,  eh,  Downes?  And  it 
was  a  neat  bit  of  work  to  cut  out  the  Sharon,  too,  and 
I  trust  you  have  no  objection  to  her  departure?" 

"  Objection  ?  "  laughed  Downes.  "  I  am  so  glad  that 
the  matter  was  settled  as  it  was  that  I  want  to  add  my 
thanks  to  Captain  Clough's." 

"  Don't  mention  it,"  said  the  admiral,  his  grim  face 
lighting.  "  Well,  Captain  Clough,  you  have  got  every 
thing  you  need?" 

"  Everything  but  one  thing,  sir.  You  have  been  more 
than  generous.  My  owners,  I  am  sure,  will  take  proper 
notice  of  your  lordship's  unparalleled  consideration 
and  kindness." 

"And  what  is  the  one  thing  you  lack,  sir?"  ques 
tioned  the  admiral,  with  interest. 

"  A  wife,  sir ! "  was  the  amazing  answer. 

"A  wife?" 

"Yes,  your  lordship,  a  wife  to  accompany  me  on  the 
long  voyage  home  to  New  Bedford." 

"Well,  by  Gad!  "  exclaimed  Cochrane,  staring  from 


With  Fair  Wind  for  Home  313 

the  smiling  young  American  to  the  smiling  and  blush 
ing  Audrey.  "A  wedding!  By  all  means.  And  as  I 
am  incapacitated  by  that  cursed  Spanish  bullet,  damme 
(forgive  me,  little  lady),  we  must  have  it  here.  Call 
my  chaplain." 

"Wait,  your  lordship,"  interposed  Captain  Downes, 
"the  chaplain  of  your  flagship  is  a  Chilean,  of  course. 
Now,  there  is  on  the  Macedonian  an  American  chap- 
plain.  With  your  permission  I  shall  send  my  boat  for 
him." 

"Have  it  your  way,  Downes,"  heartily  said  the  ad 
miral  at  once,  "  but  I  must  have  the  privilege  of  giving 
away  the  bride." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  if  your  lordship  will  so  honor  me." 
said  Audrey,  simply,  "  but  before  we  decide  upon  this 
there  is  one  thing  more." 

"What  is  that,  Miss  Audrey?" 

"  I  must  be  married  under  the  American  flag,  sir." 

"  Is  that  all !  "  exclaimed  Cochrane,  smiling.  "  Cap 
tain  Downes,  have  your  chaplain  fetch  over  all  your 
spare  colors.  We'll  dress  ship  and  fly  the  American 
flag  from  every  masthead." 

Thus  the  matter  was  settled.  The  chaplain  of  the 
Macedonian  was  soon  aboard  the  Chilean  flagship. 
He  brought  some  of  her  officers  with  him.  The  ad 
miral  had  invited  all  his  English  subordinates  into  the 
cabin  with  some  of  the  high  ranking  Chilean  officers. 
Old  Broadrib,  who  would  fain  have  given  the  bride 
away  himself,  was  there  with  Storey,  Rice  bemoaning 
the  wound  that  prevented  his  presence.  Captain 
Downes  supported  his  former  midshipman  as  best  man. 


314  Waif-o-the-Sea 


The  admiral  toasted  the  bride  in  true  seamanlike 
fashion  after  it  was  all  over,  in  some  rare  old  Madeira 
which  had  made  half  a  dozen  voyages  with  him. 

As  he  bade  his  guests  good-bye  and  wished  them  a 
safe  and  prosperous  voyage  home  and  through  life,  he 
handed  Captain  Clough  a  large  and  heavy  parcel. 

"  I  am  glad  to  have  helped  you  to  your  ship  and  wife, 
sir,"  he  said.  "  I  have  had  my  steward  make  up  a  little 
parcel  that  I  want  you  to  accept  with  my  compliments.' 
There  is  something  in  it  for  each  of  you  and  especially 
for  the  bride,  and  I  want  you  both  to  remember  that 
if  you  ever  need  a  friend  and  I  can  serve  you  I  shall  be 
glad  to  do  so.  When  I  have  fought  with,  or  against,  a 
brave  man  I  always  love  him,  and  I  suppose  I  shall  be  fly 
ing  a  flag  somewhere  on  the  seven  seas  for  some  nation  if 
not  for  my  country,"  he  continued  a  little  bitterly,  since 
his  necessity  for  an  alien  service  always  rankled,  "  and 
where  I  am  there  will  always  be  a  commission  and  a 
command  for  you,  Captain  Clough,  and  for  anyone  you 
may  bring  with  you." 

"Thank  you,  sir,"  answered  Captain  Clough.  "I 
shall  remember  that.  Here's  wishing  your  lordship  as 
great  success  in  the  future  as  in  the  past.  Good-bye, 
sir." 

But  Captain  Downes  and  the  bridal  pair  with  the 
others  of  the  Macedonian  people  were  not  to  get  away 
without  further  adventure.  Captain  Crosbie  had  or 
dered  the  yards  manned,  the  marines  paraded,  and  so, 
with  every  sea  honor  which  they  could  share  between 
them,  they  left  the  flagship. 

Captain  Downes  put  Clough  on  his  own  ship  once 


With  Fair  Wind  for  Home  315 

more.  Sails  were  loosed  and  sheeted  home,  yards  were 
braced,  the  American  flag  was  hoisted  and  with  a  salute 
from  the  O'Higgins,  the  Sharon  squared  away  before 
the  fine  fresh  breeze  then  blowing  for  the  long  voyage 
down  the  west  coast,  around  the  Horn,  up  the  east 
coast  of  South  America  for  New  Bedford,  in  the  harbor 
of  which  famous  whaling  town  four  months  after  she 
dropped  anchor  after  a  voyage  as  uneventful  as  it  had 
previously  been  exciting. 

Admiral  Cochrane's  present  to  Captain  Clough  was 
a  beautifully  mounted  Spanish  sword,  the  best  sword 
of  Captain  Cueto,  which  had  been  found  in  his  cabin 
on  the  Esmeralda,  together  with  a  pair  of  ivory  han 
dled,  silver  mounted  pistols  of  his  own.  He  sent  less 
elaborate  weapons  to  Rice  and  Storey.  To  old  Broad- 
rib  he  gave  a  very  beautiful  silver  bo's'n's  call  and, 
what  pleased  him  immensely,  a  silver  tobacco  box,  with 
a  pipe  and  a  big  package  of  the  very  finest  tobacco,  both 
for  chewing  and  smoking,  in  which  the  old  salt  took 
great  solace.  Audrey's  present  from  the  admiral  was 
enclosed  in  a  handsome  silver-mounted  box.  When 
she  opened  it  she  saw  a  very  beautiful  pair  of  small 
pistols  and  between  them  a  smaller  parcel.  That  con 
tained  a  woman's  ring  set  with  a  diamond  of  rare 
brilliance.  On  a  card  the  admiral  had  written  these 
words : 

The  pistols  are  for  the  boy,  Rey,  who  will  know 
how  to  use  them  should  there  ever  be  need,  which  God 
forbid.  The  ring  is  one  I  designed  to  give  to  my  wife. 
When  I  tell  her  Miss  Audrey's  story  she  will  join  with 
me  in  giving  it  to  the  brave  and  beautiful  wife  of  my 


316  JVaif-o-the-Sea 


good  friend,  Captain  Benjamin  Clough,  with  the  good 
wishes  of  an  old  sailor — Dundonald. 

All  of  the  other  gifts  were  accompanied  by  auto 
graphed  letters  from  the  admiral  which  made  them 
infinitely  more  valuable. 

The  owners  of  the  Sharon,  who  were  wealthy  and 
influential  merchants,  had  nothing  but  praise  for  Cap 
tain  Clough  and  his  companions.  They  offered  him  the 
command  of  a  brand  new  ship  just  ready  to  be  launched, 
they  gave  third  mates'  positions  to  Rice  and  Storey. 

The  sailors  who  had  worked  the  ship  home  received 
large  presents,  and  the  share  of  the  salvage  and  lay 
apportioned  among  the  survivors  and  those  who  had 
died  in  the  discharge  of  duty  was  so  great  that  Audrey 
for  one,  who  was  of  course  recognized  as  Captain 
Norris'  heiress,  felt  like  a  rich  woman,  and  that  the 
foundation  of  her  fortunes  and  that  of  her  husband 
were  now  assured. 

There  was  little  they  could  do  for  old  Broadrib, 
however,  except  give  him  his  salvage  and  lay.  He 
shipped  in  the  first  whaler  bound  south  with  a  rigid 
promis-e  that  he  should  be  landed  at  Valparaiso  to  rejoin 
his  beloved  admiral,  for  whom  he  carried  a  handsome 
piece  of  plate  from  the  owners  of  the  whaler,  with 
grateful  letters  from  all  the  Americans  he  had  be 
friended;  and  what  he  prized  above  all,  so  that  his  wife 
vowed  she  was  jealous  of  Audrey,  the  best  miniature  of 
the  boy-lady  that  the  best  artistry  of  the  country  could 
produce.  Admiral  Cochrane  was  the  only  man  Cap 
tain  Clough  would  have  permitted  to  have  Audrey's 
picture.  He  could  not  be  jealous  of  him  I 


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